US20070129178A1 - Golf Player Aid with Stroke Result Forecasting - Google Patents

Golf Player Aid with Stroke Result Forecasting Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US20070129178A1
US20070129178A1 US11/548,323 US54832306A US2007129178A1 US 20070129178 A1 US20070129178 A1 US 20070129178A1 US 54832306 A US54832306 A US 54832306A US 2007129178 A1 US2007129178 A1 US 2007129178A1
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
golf
player
display
stroke
data
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
US11/548,323
Other versions
US9656147B2 (en
Inventor
Goodwyn Reeves
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Appalachian Technology LLC
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Family has litigation
First worldwide family litigation filed litigation Critical https://patents.darts-ip.com/?family=32070247&utm_source=google_patent&utm_medium=platform_link&utm_campaign=public_patent_search&patent=US20070129178(A1) "Global patent litigation dataset” by Darts-ip is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Priority to US11/548,323 priority Critical patent/US9656147B2/en
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of US20070129178A1 publication Critical patent/US20070129178A1/en
Assigned to APPALACHIAN TECHNOLOGY, LLC reassignment APPALACHIAN TECHNOLOGY, LLC ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: REEVES, G. GEORGE
Assigned to LASALLE BUSINESS CREDIT, LLC reassignment LASALLE BUSINESS CREDIT, LLC SECURITY AGREEMENT Assignors: APPALACHIAN TECHNOLOGY, LLC
Assigned to APPALACHIAN TECHNOLOGY, LLC reassignment APPALACHIAN TECHNOLOGY, LLC ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: REEVES, GOODWYN GEORGE
Priority to US15/489,481 priority patent/US20170216705A1/en
Publication of US9656147B2 publication Critical patent/US9656147B2/en
Application granted granted Critical
Priority to US16/216,597 priority patent/US20190374845A1/en
Priority to US17/460,105 priority patent/US11752418B2/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Adjusted expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Images

Classifications

    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63BAPPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B71/00Games or sports accessories not covered in groups A63B1/00 - A63B69/00
    • A63B71/06Indicating or scoring devices for games or players, or for other sports activities
    • A63B71/0619Displays, user interfaces and indicating devices, specially adapted for sport equipment, e.g. display mounted on treadmills
    • A63B71/0669Score-keepers or score display devices
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63BAPPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B69/00Training appliances or apparatus for special sports
    • A63B69/36Training appliances or apparatus for special sports for golf
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63BAPPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B69/00Training appliances or apparatus for special sports
    • A63B69/36Training appliances or apparatus for special sports for golf
    • A63B69/3605Golf club selection aids informing player of his average or expected shot distance for each club
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63BAPPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B71/00Games or sports accessories not covered in groups A63B1/00 - A63B69/00
    • A63B71/06Indicating or scoring devices for games or players, or for other sports activities
    • A63B71/0619Displays, user interfaces and indicating devices, specially adapted for sport equipment, e.g. display mounted on treadmills
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63BAPPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B71/00Games or sports accessories not covered in groups A63B1/00 - A63B69/00
    • A63B71/06Indicating or scoring devices for games or players, or for other sports activities
    • A63B71/0619Displays, user interfaces and indicating devices, specially adapted for sport equipment, e.g. display mounted on treadmills
    • A63B71/0622Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63BAPPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B71/00Games or sports accessories not covered in groups A63B1/00 - A63B69/00
    • A63B71/06Indicating or scoring devices for games or players, or for other sports activities
    • A63B2071/0691Maps, e.g. yardage maps or electronic maps
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63BAPPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B2102/00Application of clubs, bats, rackets or the like to the sporting activity ; particular sports involving the use of balls and clubs, bats, rackets, or the like
    • A63B2102/32Golf
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63BAPPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B2220/00Measuring of physical parameters relating to sporting activity
    • A63B2220/10Positions
    • A63B2220/12Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63BAPPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B2220/00Measuring of physical parameters relating to sporting activity
    • A63B2220/10Positions
    • A63B2220/13Relative positions
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63BAPPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B2220/00Measuring of physical parameters relating to sporting activity
    • A63B2220/20Distances or displacements
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63BAPPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B2220/00Measuring of physical parameters relating to sporting activity
    • A63B2220/50Force related parameters
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63BAPPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B2225/00Miscellaneous features of sport apparatus, devices or equipment
    • A63B2225/20Miscellaneous features of sport apparatus, devices or equipment with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63BAPPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B2225/00Miscellaneous features of sport apparatus, devices or equipment
    • A63B2225/50Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63BAPPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B71/00Games or sports accessories not covered in groups A63B1/00 - A63B69/00
    • A63B71/06Indicating or scoring devices for games or players, or for other sports activities
    • A63B71/0616Means for conducting or scheduling competition, league, tournaments or rankings

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the game of golf, and more particularly to a player aid device which predicts the likely result of the next non putting stroke with a chosen club or the likely break of the next putt.
  • a previous golf round data system in U.S. Pat. No. 5,740,077 teaches a system which efficiently gives course distance information, collects shot accuracy and distance data with each of the player's clubs, paces play to discourage slow play, and displays performance data after the round is completed. It depends upon the player's memory of his past performance and skill to choose the correct club while playing.
  • the previous golf round data system also needs some local external computer capability to load in course data before play, receive and process round data after play, and produce skill and performance information for the player.
  • the golf round data system in U.S. Pat. No. 5,740,077 uses a special purpose unit which has no other function. It also requires the player to press a button to indicate that each stroke has been taken and data should be recorded.
  • This new system can use a graphical display to show the player the probable distance and accuracy result of a stroke to be taken using a selected club and present skill level.
  • the display shows the current hole being played, the current ball position, the intended direction of the next stroke, and the probable result area within which the ball can be expected to lie after a stroke taken with the selected club. If a course hazard is within the probable result area the player can adjust club selection or intended direction to obtain a more favorable result.
  • the display changes to show the features of the hole between the player's present position and the objective even if the player is outside the fairway. After reaching the green the display can aid putting by showing the forces tending to make the ball break from a straight line to the cup. It can also display the approximate putt break distance and direction thus enabling the player to compensate his putt aim point.
  • This invention also allows course layout information and past player performance data to be loaded into the hand-held unit via a cellular telephone call.
  • the results of past rounds can also be shown directly on the graphical display.
  • the system also can automatically detect strokes taken and clubs used to collect round data without the player having to remember to do anything to make it happen.
  • Each of a player's clubs can be equipped to emit a signal when they are used to stroke a ball and the new golf round data system hand-held unit receives, interprets and registers these signals. The player would still be responsible for entering penalty strokes since they do not have a club physically striking a ball.
  • the round data collected can be used to update the skill database for a player to improve the accuracy of stroke result predictions in future rounds of play.
  • a further feature of the new system is that after the round is complete the data can be uploaded to the player's unique file area on the Internet. This permits the player to access his or her golfing data and analyses of it from any Internet access point.
  • FIG. 1 Cellular Phone Handset With Graphic Golf Round Data Capability
  • FIG. 2 Schematic Block Diagram of Components of Cellular Phone Handset With Graphic Golf Round Data Capability
  • FIG. 3 a Telemetry Equipped Golf Club
  • FIG. 3 b Schematic Block Diagram of Components of Radio Telemetry Unit
  • FIG. 3 c Passive Telemetry Unit Cross Section
  • FIG. 3 d Schematic Block Diagram of Components of Built-in Radio Telemetry Unit
  • FIG. 4 a Graphic Display Prior to a Second Stroke on a Hole
  • FIG. 4 b Graphic Display Prior to a Putt
  • FIG. 5 A Soudging Map of a Course and Round
  • FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a cellular phone handset with a graphic golf round data capability.
  • the outer case 1 is of the type typical of cellular handsets. It is lightweight, breakage resistant, and resistant to environmental effects.
  • the antenna 2 converts cellular and radio location radio waves into electrical signals for processing by circuits inside the case 1 .
  • the antenna 2 also converts cellular phone signals into radio waves when the handset is transmitting.
  • Speaker 3 and microphone 4 apertures in the case allow sound out and in.
  • Contacts 5 on the outside of the case permit battery charging and serial data communication with other data handling devices.
  • a conventional telephone keypad 6 is provided for entering telephone numbers.
  • the send button 7 enables telephone numbers entered to be connected.
  • the end button 8 is used to end calls and turn power on or off.
  • the menu button 9 lets the user call up a main menu to select among the available operating modes of the handset. These modes can include phone, email, web, golf, GPS, golf/phone, and GPS/phone. These particular labels assume that the radio location system used is the Global Positioning System.
  • the cursor button 10 allows the user to increment the cursor from one item to the next on the display 11 .
  • the increase button 12 lets the user increase the value of a cursor selected item and the decrease button 13 lets the user decrease the selected item.
  • the ok button 14 allows the user to enter data and activate the chosen items and values displayed. Display 11 is shown as a standard 320 pixel by 240 pixel unit oriented 240 wide by 320 high.
  • the alphanumeric information for the user is along the edges of the display 11 .
  • the mode display 15 shows the current operating mode. In the example shown in FIG. 1 the mode is “PLAY GOLF”.
  • the identifying initials of the current user are shown at 16 .
  • the hole being played is shown at 17 .
  • the number at 18 is the minutes remaining to complete the present hole if the players are to maintain a course management prescribed schedule of play.
  • the yards 19 from the player's present position 31 to the central area of the green 25 is displayed.
  • the club 20 the player intends to use for the next stroke is shown.
  • the number of strokes 21 already used on the hole is displayed.
  • the central portion of display 11 shows a graphical representation of the hole being played. Items shown are the tee box 22 , the fairway boundary indicated by a dashed line 23 , the putting green boundary indicated by a solid line 24 , the location of the central portion of the green indicated by the plus mark 25 , bunkers indicated by stippled regions 26 , standing waters hazards indicated by the dashed area 27 , flowing water hazard indicated by multiple lines 28 , trees 29 , out of bounds regions indicated by crosshatched area 30 , the player's present position indicated by the x 31 , the intended direction for the next stroke shown by the long-short dashed line 32 , and the probable region the ball will land is shown by the dotted oval 33 .
  • FIG. 2 shows a schematic block diagram of the operating components of the cellular telephone handset with graphic golf round data capability.
  • the microprocessor 34 which can be any of several widely known and available integrated circuits executes instructions from the program memory 41 , receives and transmits data, and manages the overall operation of the handset.
  • the antenna 2 converts cellular telephone and radiolocation radio waves into electrical signals for the radio location receiver 35 and the cellular telephone transceiver 36 .
  • the radiolocation receiver 35 can be made from commercially available chip sets which process signals from the Global Positioning System; it could also be some other radio location receiver such as one based upon sensing the time delays to send signals between the handset and each of two different cellular towers.
  • the microphone 37 converts speech and other sounds into electrical signals which are amplified and coupled to the telephone transceiver 36 and the microprocessor 34 .
  • A/D converter 38 digitizes the analog signals and passes the digitized representation of the sound information to the microprocessor 34 .
  • the loudspeaker 40 is connected to the cellular telephone transceiver 36 to let the user hear phone messages and through D/A converter 39 to allow microprocessor 34 generated audible signals to the user.
  • the D/A converter 39 converts digital signals from the microprocessor 34 into analog signals to drive the loudspeaker subsystem 40 which would typically contain a power amplifier and a electrical to acoustic transducer.
  • the program memory 41 retains the program instructions and would preferably be a non-volatile type such as flash memory, EPROM, EEPROM or battery backed RAM.
  • the telephone I.D. memory 42 is also non-volatile and retains telephone number, serial number and account information necessary for the cellular system to recognize and connect to a particular handset. In practice memories 41 and 42 could in fact be combined within a single integrated circuit.
  • Course data memory 43 retains golf course layout information used to generate graphical displays and alphanumeric data displays as a round of golf is played.
  • the player data memory 44 retains information about one or more players' skill levels. This information is accumulated from previous rounds played by each user and loaded into the player data memory 44 prior to starting a round of play.
  • the round data memory 45 retains data for all strokes taken by one or more players during a round of play.
  • the stroke data for each stroke includes the location of the stroke, the club used, the hole being played, the time of the stroke, and the identity of the player making the stroke.
  • the RAM random access memory 46 is the usual utility memory for variables and computations common to systems with microprocessors.
  • the key switches 47 are activated by the user operated buttons to allow user data inputs to the system.
  • the data transfer interface 48 permits the handset to exchange data with one or more computers which retain the required databases.
  • the interface could for example be a simple RS-232 standard serial port, an infrared optical link, an RF link such as the Bluetooth standard.
  • the battery and power supply 49 stores enough energy to operate the handset for at least one round of golf and supplies electrical power to the other components of the handset.
  • FIG. 3 -A shows a perspective view of the lower portion of a golf club equipped with a telemetry unit which sends data to the hand-held unit of FIG. 1 .
  • the club 50 is shown with a short portion of the club shaft 51 .
  • the telemetry unit 52 affixed to the shaft near its lower end as shown.
  • the telemetry unit communicates to the hand held data unit of FIG. 1 the fact that a particular club is being used to make a stroke.
  • FIG. 3 -B shows a schematic block diagram of the components of a radio telemetry version of telemetry unit 52 .
  • the accelerometer 55 detects club head motion which is perpendicular to both the top face edge 54 and the shaft centerline 53 . That information is passed to the motion detector 56 which turns on the transmitter 57 to send a coded radio signal.
  • the code number transmitted uniquely identifies the player and club being used since each individual telemetry unit 52 that is used on a golf course has its own unique preassigned identifying code.
  • the battery 58 powers the telemetry unit 52 .
  • the transmission frequency of the transmitter 57 is chosen to match that of one of the several radio receivers in the handset shown in FIG. 1 . These receiver frequencies include the radio location frequency, cellular frequency or frequencies and the frequency of any receiver in the data transfer interface 48 .
  • FIG. 3 c shows a cross section of a passive acoustic telemetry unit.
  • the cross section plane contains line 53 and is parallel to line 54 .
  • Holes 59 , 60 , 61 and 62 each emit a whistle tone as the club is swung rapidly providing a strong airflow over their open ends.
  • the pitch of each tone is determined by the length of each hole. Shorter holes emit higher pitch tones. The holes can be kept short enough to make all the tones above the human hearing tonal range and therefore inaudible. Any of up to three of the tones can be silenced by omitting its corresponding hole. This provides 15 unique tone pattern combinations allowing each club a player carries to be assigned its own tone pattern.
  • Microphone 37 and A/D converter 38 convey the tone patterns and clicks to the microprocessor 34 where the information is processed to determine that a stroke has been taken with a particular club. Short putts do not make enough sound to register automatically and are therefore entered manually by the player.
  • FIGS. 3 a , 3 b and 3 c can be applied to existing golf clubs. If the Telemetry capability is built into clubs during their manufacture then tone generating holes like 59 , 60 , 61 and 62 can be placed in the club heads. Radio telemetry can also be efficiently built into clubs during their manufacturer.
  • FIG. 3 d shows a schematic block diagram of components of a built-in radio telemetry unit.
  • the hand grip switch 63 detects that the player has gripped the club and activates the ball contact detector 64 .
  • the hand grip switch 63 can take any of several forms. It could be a simple pressure sensitive contact which completes a circuit; it could be a piezoelectric sensor and threshold detector; or it could be a piezoresistive sensor and threshold detector.
  • the ball contact detector can be a microphone embedded in the club head, an accelerometer in the club head, or a piezoelectric or piezoresistive surface on the club face.
  • the ball contact detector 64 detects ball contact it activates the coded radio transmitter 65 which is like 57 .
  • the battery 66 can be conveniently mounted inside the club handle where it is easy to replace and can also be reasonably large without significantly changing the player's swing motion.
  • handgrip switch is a normally closed contact switch on the handgrip end of the shaft.
  • the switch When the club is lifted off the bottom of the golf club bag the switch would close to turn on coded radio transmitter 65 providing an identification signal enabling the portable player aid system to automatically determine which club has been tentatively chosen for the next stroke. A stroke result forecast would then be produced without the player having to key in a club selection or even lift the club completely out of the bag. The switch would make contact as soon as the handle of the club is lifted from contact with the bottom of the bag.
  • the hand-held unit in FIG. 1 Before the hand-held unit in FIG. 1 can be used it must be loaded with course and player specific information. If an analog or digital cellular telephone connection is available then the player dials a predetermined telephone number. Based upon the location of the hand-held unit as determined by its radio location capability the player receives a list of nearby golf courses. If he or she happens to be near the clubhouse of a golf course the list consists of the courses served by that clubhouse. If the player is not near a course clubhouse he or she of receives an alphabetical list of nearby courses with a “more selections” line at the bottom a list to permit the list to be expanded until the desired course is found. Allowing for an expanded list of the golf courses permits the user to preload the hand-held unit at any time before play is to begin.
  • Course data consists of tee and green locations measured in the geographic coordinates used by the radiolocation capability of the hand-held unit. If the hand-held unit has a graphical display then course information also includes a course map containing the features to be displayed for each hole. The player then enters or his or her identity to start a download of player specific data. If the display 11 does not include a graphics capability the player specific data is the mean distance achieved with each club in past play.
  • a the player specific data includes the lengths and widths of the elliptical patterns 33 containing 50% of the results of previous shots taken with each of the player's clubs, omitting the putter. If adequate past playing statistics for a golfer are not available then statistics for a player of average skill are entered. Any telemetry codes that identify the player's telemetry equipped clubs are also downloaded. If a hand-held unit is to be used by more than one player then player specific information for the other players who will use the unit is also downloaded.
  • the two way communication capability can be used to assign a tee time when play is to begin at the first tee, set whether the distance information display 19 , 33 is on or off, set whether or not distances are to be displayed on the hand-held unit if it is near the center of the green, set whether the pacing timer 18 is on or off, and collect payment of green and cart rental fees.
  • Complete blanking of the distance display would be necessary for the remaining features of the system to be used in tournament play since the normal rules of golf prohibit the use of range finding devices in such play.
  • the data transfer interface 48 connects to some device such as a personal computer and downloads the same information as above from a local database or from remote central database.
  • the remote central database can be maintained on an Internet site.
  • the player display 16 shows identifying initials for the first player entered into the hand-held unit's memory
  • the hole number display 17 shows 0 because no hole has begun yet
  • the time display shows the minutes remaining until tee time for the starting tee
  • the distance display 19 shows the distance to the starting tee if it is less than 1000 yards
  • the club display 20 is blank as is the stroke count display 21 . If the time remaining until tee time exceeds 60 minutes then the time remaining display shows hours and minutes remaining separated by a colon.
  • the distance display goes blank if there is insufficient received radio signal strength to produce an accurate measurement of position. This feature alerts the user to the need to reposition the hand-held unit.
  • the pacing feature has been incorporated in this invention.
  • the time remaining display 18 on the hand-held unit shows the time remaining to play out the present hole and get to the next tee. For most players this gentle reminder would be sufficient to cause them to keep up their play pace adequately and not, for example, consume too much time hunting a hopelessly lost ball.
  • the management can also use the time remaining display to make rules prohibiting slow play if that is necessary.
  • the time to the next tee display 18 provides an easy and convenient way for players to take a break without impeding play. Management in scheduling the pacing feature simply adds the desired break time to the scheduled time to play hole number 9 . The scheduled break between holes 9 and 10 also puts some slack in the playing schedule to allow slower players to get back on time.
  • the distance displayed 19 is the distance from the present location to the next objective on the course.
  • the radiolocation receiver 35 and microcomputer 34 determine the present location of the hand-held unit on the course.
  • the location of the desired course objective has previously been stored in the hand-held unit memory.
  • the microcomputer 34 in the hand-held unit uses this information in conjunction with its program instructions to compute the distance between the two points in a manner well known by those skilled in the art.
  • In the interests of speeding play course management may choose to activate the close to the pin feature which causes the distance display to show “ ⁇ 20” when the hand-held unit is less than 20 yards from the center of the green. This feature reduces distractions for players when they are close enough to the pin to clearly judge distances for themselves and are likely playing putting strokes.
  • the next club display 20 designates the numbered driver clubs as a number followed by a lower case letter d, the numbered iron clubs by a numeral followed by a lower case letter i, and the unnumbered clubs by two upper case letters such as P for the putter, PW for the pitching wedge, and SW for the sand wedge.
  • the hole number display 17 changes to the number of the starting tee.
  • the distance display 19 shows the distance to the corresponding green. It sometimes happens that players begin on hole 10 rather than 1 if for example they are going to play only 9 holes or there is course maintenance in progress on holes 1 through 9 .
  • the next club display 20 shows the club which the player identified by the player initial 16 would typically use if that player's previous club use statistics have been entered into hand-held unit player data memory 44 . In the absence of statistics for a particular player the next club display would show the club which would be used by an average player.
  • the stroke display shows a 0 because no strokes have yet been consumed on the hole.
  • next club display 20 is blinking to indicate that it can be changed by the player by using the increase button 12 or the decrease button 13 on the hand-held unit.
  • the player can also use the cursor button 10 to select which display item blinks and can be changed by the increase or decrease buttons 12 and 13 .
  • Each press of the cursor button 10 moves the blinking location sequentially among the items which the player can control.
  • These are the next club to be used 20 , the intended direction line 32 for the next stroke, hole number being played 17 , player identity 16 if multiple players are sharing a hand-held unit, and strokes used on the hole 21 .
  • the next club display 20 blinks and can be changed at will by the player who is about to strike the ball from the tee.
  • the player increases or decreases the club display 20 until it shows the club selected by the player for the stroke. For each club the probable result 33 is shown. If the display is non-graphic showing only alphanumeric characters then the average distance for the selected club would show momentarily on the distance display until the increase or decrease button is released. Since the display already shows a club close to the appropriate one, the number of increases or decreases to make the display match the club intended is small.
  • One press on cursor button 10 then moves the blinking to the intended direction line 32 for the stroke about to be taken. When the line 32 is blinking pressing button 12 shifts line 32 to the left; pressing button 13 shifts line 32 to the right.
  • the player presses the OK button 14 to record in hand-held unit memory 45 the fact that a stroke has been used, the club displayed by 20 , the radio location position on the course at which the stroke was taken, the intended direction 32 , and the time at which the stroke was taken.
  • the first stroke will be in a course tee area for the first hole to be played but these are typically fairly long to allow players of different abilities to play the course comfortably by using one of three or more tee locations usually designated in order of increasing distance from the pin as ladies', men's, and professional. For this reason it is necessary for the locations of tee strokes as well as the other strokes in a round to have their positions recorded.
  • the display changes in one of two ways depending upon whether the hand-held unit is being used by a single or multiple players. If a single player is using it then after a stroke is recorded the stroke display 21 increments by one and blinks to allow the player to easily use the increase button 12 to register a penalty stroke if one should be called for by the results of the stroke just previously registered.
  • the club display 20 shows the club just previously recorded for the stroke.
  • the direction line 32 shows the intended direction just previously recorded for the stroke.
  • the stroke can be canceled by decreasing the stroke count display 21 by one using the decrease button 13 and a message is shown on display 11 in place of part of the graphical display. That message is “Canceling last stroke also erases its lie, intended direction, and club—press CURSOR to proceed.” The message remains displayed until it is acknowledged by the player pressing the cursor button 10 . Whether or not the previous stroke has been canceled, after cursor button 10 is pressed the display returns to its original configuration ready to register a stroke.
  • the display window 11 shows player identity 16 , hole being played 17 , minutes remaining to get to the next hole tee 18 , yards 19 to the center of the green of the hole being played, next club 20 selected (flashing), and strokes used on the present hole so far 21 .
  • the direction line 32 extends from the present position 31 to the center of the green 25 . If the player using the hand-held unit singly does not press any buttons after registering a stroke and moves more than 10 yards from the lie recorded the display reverts to the numerical configuration with the approximate club to be used next 20 blinking.
  • the hole number 17 advances to the next hole number to be played and time display 18 changes to the time remaining to complete that next hole.
  • Hand-held unit travel from a green to the next tee area is easily detectable by the microcomputer in the hand-held unit since the radiolocation system continually updates its present position data and the locations of greens and tee areas have been previously stored in the hand-held unit memory.
  • a player using a hand-held unit by himself without telemetry equipped clubs ordinarily would simply change the club display and direction displays 20 , 32 and press the OK button 14 as the round is played. With telemetry equipped clubs the player would not need to change the club display 20 and would rarely need to press the OK 14 button to correctly register strokes.
  • FIG. 4 a The display shows the portion of the golf course between the player's position 31 and the green 25 .
  • the player is in an adjacent fairway while playing hole number 3 shown on hole display 17 , has 9 minutes remaining to complete the hole as shown on the time display 18 , is 95 yards from the middle of the green as shown on the distance display 19 , has chosen to use a nine iron as shown by the next club display 20 , has a 50% probability that the ball will land within contour 33 , and has previously used one stroke on the hole as shown on the stroke display 21 .
  • the display changes as shown in FIG. 4 b .
  • Shown on the display are the edge of the green 24 , the player's location 31 , the cup 67 , and a straight line 68 , between the player and the cup.
  • the contour of the green and the grain of the grass impose forces on the ball tending to slow or speed it and tending to make it break from the ideal straight line 68 .
  • Those forces pushing on the ball are displayed as lines 70 toward successive possible ball positions along line 68 .
  • the length of each line toward a ball position is proportional to the magnitude of the force at that position on the green.
  • the direction of lines 70 indicate the direction of the force pressing on the ball at each position. In the particular example in FIG.
  • the ball traveling along line 68 would experience a small accelerating force with a break toward the left at all places except at and immediately before and after position 69 .
  • the ball experiences a retarding force and a significant break to the right due to a transition up a short incline to a higher level near the cup.
  • the distance display 19 shows an estimate of the distance the putt will break left or right from a straight line between the player's position and the cup.
  • the handheld unit has estimated from the green contour and position data that the putt will break 2 feet to the right.
  • the location of cup 67 may not have been included in the course data downloaded to the portable unit. This may be the case because the cup locations are often changed daily and course management may find it inconvenient to update the course database that often. If the cup location is not in the downloaded course data then the handheld unit could be used to enter it.
  • a term CP representing the word cup could be added to the club list for club display 20 . The player would then scroll the club list to CP and press the OK button 14 while standing over the cup to store the cup location without recording a stroke.
  • the display changes to show the stroke count 21 increased by one and no display elements blinking for an interval of about 5 seconds. After the 5 second interval for the first player to see what has been registered the displayed player initials 16 change to those for another player and blink. If the player designated is the next to take a stroke then that player simply moves to his or her ball, presses the cursor button 10 to make the next club display 20 blink, adjusts the club display to the club chosen using the increase 12 or decrease 13 button, presses cursor button 10 to make the direction line 32 blink, moves the line display with increase 12 or decrease 13 buttons, and registers a stroke by pressing the OK button.
  • the hand-held unit automatically records its present position in memory to facilitate slow play detection.
  • PLAY is the round data collection playing mode described above.
  • the CARD mode causes the display to show a player's score card for the round up to the present hole.
  • the SHOW mode displays previous strokes taken during a round. To show previous stroke the hand-held units' buttons are used to set the hole number 17 and the stroke number 21 . The graphical display then shows a line extending from the location where the stroke was taken to the location of the next stroke.
  • the club display 20 shows the club used for that particular stroke.
  • the direction display line 32 shows the stroke's intended direction.
  • the distance display 19 shows the distance achieved with the caption changed from “YRDS TO GREEN” to simply “YARDS”. If the stroke was the final stroke on a hole then an X shows the location of that final stroke without any direction or distance information display.
  • This SHOW mode lets a player review any previous stoke in a round or replay the entire round if that is desired.
  • the database contains information on previous rounds played by each player and is the source of information about player performance.
  • the database can be maintained on a local computer, at some remote central site preferably accessible by the Internet, or copies of the database can be maintained at both local and remote central locations. If the cellular telephone service is available the upload data transfer can be accomplished by dialing a predetermined telephone number to establish a connection with the computer maintaining the player's database. Alternatively the data transfer interface 48 can be used to connect with a local computer. Data transferred to a local computer can be entered into a locally maintained database for the player and/or forwarded onto the player's remote central database.
  • the database contains the identity of the player and the course, the location of each stroke taken during a round, and the data and time of play. For any particular round a souvenir plot of the course and the path of the strokes taken by the player can be printed along with a scorecard as shown in FIG. 5 . Certificates commemorating special events such as a hole-in-one, handicap reduction, or other significant improvement can be printed.
  • Past play data allows each player's performance to be analyzed.
  • the distance and directional accuracy of each stoke taken with each club can be computed from the ball position data stored. From these data the probable result contour 33 for each club can be computed for a player.
  • the player's skills in separate portions of the game such as driving, approach shots, sand trap strokes, and putting can be compared with averages for players of similar skill level to determine which portion should be worked on first to gain improvement in game scores.
  • the present invention is a significant improvement over the previous golf round data system. It collects more accuracy data, presents it to the player more conveniently, takes advantage of cellular telephone capabilities, does not necessarily need equipment installation at the golf course, and makes the resulting data easily accessible to the player anywhere there is Internet access.
  • the monochrome graphic display described could be changed to a multicolor unit to use colored regions in place of lines to designate course areas.
  • the radio location receiver could be connected wirelessly and not be within the same enclosure.
  • the probable result display could be shown as a rectangle rather than an ellipse; or the probable result could be shown as a scatter plot displaying the range and accuracy of previous strokes taken with the chosen club.
  • the displayed objective on the green could be the cup rather than the center of the green surface.
  • the hand-held unit could be made smaller and less expensive by substituting an alphanumeric display for the graphic display described, and the device would still be a significant improvement over the previous art.
  • the cellular feature could be omitted for hand-held units which are always to be used at a course equipped with local data transfer capability, and they would cost less and serve the players just as well.
  • the collected round data could be maintained on some other easily accessible data repository instead of the Internet web site described.
  • the stroke result forecast could use a club or a series of clubs automatically chosen by a computer connected to the display unit based upon location and skill data instead of having the user select a club before displaying a forecast.
  • the system would thus have a club recommendation capability.
  • the automatically generated direction indication is shown toward the green.
  • it could be computed to maximize the player's chance of landing the ball on the fairway or green so that on long dogleg holes or those with hazards on one side of a fairway the initial direction indication may not be straight toward the green.
  • the system would thus produce playing strategy recommendations.

Abstract

A portable handheld device for collecting and displaying golf round data. The data collected for each stroke includes the location, time, and club used and the resulting ball position achieved. Before each drive or approach shot player skill level, course layout information, and player location on the course are used together with the club selected by the player to forecast the result of the next stroke. Putt break prediction information is provided before each putt. Information that a stroke has been taken and which club was used can be entered manually or sensed automatically from telemetry equipped clubs.

Description

    RELATED APPLICATION
  • This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/739,503 filed Dec. 19, 2000, which is incorporated herein by reference.
  • FIELD OF INVENTION
  • The present invention relates to the game of golf, and more particularly to a player aid device which predicts the likely result of the next non putting stroke with a chosen club or the likely break of the next putt.
  • BACKGROUND
  • Golfers playing a game of golf try to maintain a consistent swing and adjust the distance the ball travels by choosing the correct club. They desire to choose the correct club to advance the ball toward the cup on a particular green without overshooting the green or putting the ball into a hazard area such as water, trees or a sand bunker. In order to accomplish this they need to know their present distance from the green and the expected result of applying their personal playing skill to each of the clubs they carry. They typically use their estimate of distances and recollection of past performance to choose a club which they think will safely advance the ball. Players often want to choose a club which limits the distance the ball will travel to keep it on the near side of a course hazard. Distances are not easy to estimate accurately and players sometimes choose a club which drives the ball too far and puts it beyond the target green or into a course hazard.
  • Accuracy is also not easy to estimate from memory. Players sometimes attempt to advance the ball to a position between course hazards when in reality their skill level makes a successful outcome unlikely. An important function of professional golf caddies is to offer players distance and game strategy advice to aid these distance and accuracy decisions. Players also desire to play continuously without being delayed by unusual slow players ahead of them on the course.
  • A previous golf round data system in U.S. Pat. No. 5,740,077 teaches a system which efficiently gives course distance information, collects shot accuracy and distance data with each of the player's clubs, paces play to discourage slow play, and displays performance data after the round is completed. It depends upon the player's memory of his past performance and skill to choose the correct club while playing. The previous golf round data system also needs some local external computer capability to load in course data before play, receive and process round data after play, and produce skill and performance information for the player. The golf round data system in U.S. Pat. No. 5,740,077 uses a special purpose unit which has no other function. It also requires the player to press a button to indicate that each stroke has been taken and data should be recorded. This earlier system does not let the player specify the intended direction of the next stroke. The prior art does not reveal any prediction of the likely path of the ball following a non-putting stroke. It also does not reveal any forecasting of putt break left or right from a straight line extending from the player to the cup.
  • Objects and Advantages
  • It is the object of the present invention to provide an improved golf player aid system which predicts the result of the next non-putting stroke based upon the player's club choice and skill level. It also provides information on the left or right break of the next putt. Recent improvements in cellular telephones, the global positioning system, and graphical display are employed.
  • This new system can use a graphical display to show the player the probable distance and accuracy result of a stroke to be taken using a selected club and present skill level. The display shows the current hole being played, the current ball position, the intended direction of the next stroke, and the probable result area within which the ball can be expected to lie after a stroke taken with the selected club. If a course hazard is within the probable result area the player can adjust club selection or intended direction to obtain a more favorable result. As play on a hole progresses the display changes to show the features of the hole between the player's present position and the objective even if the player is outside the fairway. After reaching the green the display can aid putting by showing the forces tending to make the ball break from a straight line to the cup. It can also display the approximate putt break distance and direction thus enabling the player to compensate his putt aim point.
  • This invention also allows course layout information and past player performance data to be loaded into the hand-held unit via a cellular telephone call. The results of past rounds can also be shown directly on the graphical display. These features permit this new golf round data system to be used without access to a separate local computer. The combination with cellular telephone permits a hand-held unit with utility beyond the golf game. Since cellular phones will soon be required to have location capability to facilitate emergency calls it is relatively easy to include golf round data collection features in a hand-held cellular telephone.
  • The system also can automatically detect strokes taken and clubs used to collect round data without the player having to remember to do anything to make it happen. Each of a player's clubs can be equipped to emit a signal when they are used to stroke a ball and the new golf round data system hand-held unit receives, interprets and registers these signals. The player would still be responsible for entering penalty strokes since they do not have a club physically striking a ball. The round data collected can be used to update the skill database for a player to improve the accuracy of stroke result predictions in future rounds of play.
  • A further feature of the new system is that after the round is complete the data can be uploaded to the player's unique file area on the Internet. This permits the player to access his or her golfing data and analyses of it from any Internet access point.
  • DRAWINGS
  • FIG. 1: Cellular Phone Handset With Graphic Golf Round Data Capability
  • FIG. 2: Schematic Block Diagram of Components of Cellular Phone Handset With Graphic Golf Round Data Capability
  • FIG. 3 a: Telemetry Equipped Golf Club
  • FIG. 3 b: Schematic Block Diagram of Components of Radio Telemetry Unit
  • FIG. 3 c: Passive Telemetry Unit Cross Section
  • FIG. 3 d: Schematic Block Diagram of Components of Built-in Radio Telemetry Unit
  • FIG. 4 a: Graphic Display Prior to a Second Stroke on a Hole
  • FIG. 4 b: Graphic Display Prior to a Putt
  • FIG. 5: A Souvenir Map of a Course and Round
  • DESCRIPTION
  • FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a cellular phone handset with a graphic golf round data capability. The outer case 1 is of the type typical of cellular handsets. It is lightweight, breakage resistant, and resistant to environmental effects. The antenna 2 converts cellular and radio location radio waves into electrical signals for processing by circuits inside the case 1. The antenna 2 also converts cellular phone signals into radio waves when the handset is transmitting. Speaker 3 and microphone 4 apertures in the case allow sound out and in. Contacts 5 on the outside of the case permit battery charging and serial data communication with other data handling devices. A conventional telephone keypad 6 is provided for entering telephone numbers. The send button 7 enables telephone numbers entered to be connected. The end button 8 is used to end calls and turn power on or off. The menu button 9 lets the user call up a main menu to select among the available operating modes of the handset. These modes can include phone, email, web, golf, GPS, golf/phone, and GPS/phone. These particular labels assume that the radio location system used is the Global Positioning System. The cursor button 10 allows the user to increment the cursor from one item to the next on the display 11. The increase button 12 lets the user increase the value of a cursor selected item and the decrease button 13 lets the user decrease the selected item. The ok button 14 allows the user to enter data and activate the chosen items and values displayed. Display 11 is shown as a standard 320 pixel by 240 pixel unit oriented 240 wide by 320 high.
  • The alphanumeric information for the user is along the edges of the display 11. The mode display 15 shows the current operating mode. In the example shown in FIG. 1 the mode is “PLAY GOLF”. The identifying initials of the current user are shown at 16. The hole being played is shown at 17. The number at 18 is the minutes remaining to complete the present hole if the players are to maintain a course management prescribed schedule of play. The yards 19 from the player's present position 31 to the central area of the green 25 is displayed. The club 20 the player intends to use for the next stroke is shown. The number of strokes 21 already used on the hole is displayed.
  • The central portion of display 11 shows a graphical representation of the hole being played. Items shown are the tee box 22, the fairway boundary indicated by a dashed line 23, the putting green boundary indicated by a solid line 24, the location of the central portion of the green indicated by the plus mark 25, bunkers indicated by stippled regions 26, standing waters hazards indicated by the dashed area 27, flowing water hazard indicated by multiple lines 28, trees 29, out of bounds regions indicated by crosshatched area 30, the player's present position indicated by the x 31, the intended direction for the next stroke shown by the long-short dashed line 32, and the probable region the ball will land is shown by the dotted oval 33.
  • FIG. 2 shows a schematic block diagram of the operating components of the cellular telephone handset with graphic golf round data capability. The microprocessor 34 which can be any of several widely known and available integrated circuits executes instructions from the program memory 41, receives and transmits data, and manages the overall operation of the handset. The antenna 2 converts cellular telephone and radiolocation radio waves into electrical signals for the radio location receiver 35 and the cellular telephone transceiver 36. The radiolocation receiver 35 can be made from commercially available chip sets which process signals from the Global Positioning System; it could also be some other radio location receiver such as one based upon sensing the time delays to send signals between the handset and each of two different cellular towers.
  • The microphone 37 converts speech and other sounds into electrical signals which are amplified and coupled to the telephone transceiver 36 and the microprocessor 34. A/D converter 38 digitizes the analog signals and passes the digitized representation of the sound information to the microprocessor 34. The loudspeaker 40 is connected to the cellular telephone transceiver 36 to let the user hear phone messages and through D/A converter 39 to allow microprocessor 34 generated audible signals to the user. The D/A converter 39 converts digital signals from the microprocessor 34 into analog signals to drive the loudspeaker subsystem 40 which would typically contain a power amplifier and a electrical to acoustic transducer.
  • The program memory 41 retains the program instructions and would preferably be a non-volatile type such as flash memory, EPROM, EEPROM or battery backed RAM. The telephone I.D. memory 42 is also non-volatile and retains telephone number, serial number and account information necessary for the cellular system to recognize and connect to a particular handset. In practice memories 41 and 42 could in fact be combined within a single integrated circuit. Course data memory 43 retains golf course layout information used to generate graphical displays and alphanumeric data displays as a round of golf is played. The player data memory 44 retains information about one or more players' skill levels. This information is accumulated from previous rounds played by each user and loaded into the player data memory 44 prior to starting a round of play. The round data memory 45 retains data for all strokes taken by one or more players during a round of play. The stroke data for each stroke includes the location of the stroke, the club used, the hole being played, the time of the stroke, and the identity of the player making the stroke. The RAM random access memory 46 is the usual utility memory for variables and computations common to systems with microprocessors.
  • The key switches 47 are activated by the user operated buttons to allow user data inputs to the system. The data transfer interface 48 permits the handset to exchange data with one or more computers which retain the required databases. The interface could for example be a simple RS-232 standard serial port, an infrared optical link, an RF link such as the Bluetooth standard. The battery and power supply 49 stores enough energy to operate the handset for at least one round of golf and supplies electrical power to the other components of the handset.
  • FIG. 3-A shows a perspective view of the lower portion of a golf club equipped with a telemetry unit which sends data to the hand-held unit of FIG. 1. The club 50 is shown with a short portion of the club shaft 51. The telemetry unit 52 affixed to the shaft near its lower end as shown. The telemetry unit communicates to the hand held data unit of FIG. 1 the fact that a particular club is being used to make a stroke.
  • FIG. 3-B shows a schematic block diagram of the components of a radio telemetry version of telemetry unit 52. The accelerometer 55 detects club head motion which is perpendicular to both the top face edge 54 and the shaft centerline 53. That information is passed to the motion detector 56 which turns on the transmitter 57 to send a coded radio signal. The code number transmitted uniquely identifies the player and club being used since each individual telemetry unit 52 that is used on a golf course has its own unique preassigned identifying code. The battery 58 powers the telemetry unit 52. The transmission frequency of the transmitter 57 is chosen to match that of one of the several radio receivers in the handset shown in FIG. 1. These receiver frequencies include the radio location frequency, cellular frequency or frequencies and the frequency of any receiver in the data transfer interface 48.
  • FIG. 3 c shows a cross section of a passive acoustic telemetry unit. The cross section plane contains line 53 and is parallel to line 54. Holes 59, 60, 61 and 62 each emit a whistle tone as the club is swung rapidly providing a strong airflow over their open ends. The pitch of each tone is determined by the length of each hole. Shorter holes emit higher pitch tones. The holes can be kept short enough to make all the tones above the human hearing tonal range and therefore inaudible. Any of up to three of the tones can be silenced by omitting its corresponding hole. This provides 15 unique tone pattern combinations allowing each club a player carries to be assigned its own tone pattern. The natural click sound when the club contacts the ball provides on acoustic signal indicating that a stroke has been taken. Microphone 37 and A/D converter 38 convey the tone patterns and clicks to the microprocessor 34 where the information is processed to determine that a stroke has been taken with a particular club. Short putts do not make enough sound to register automatically and are therefore entered manually by the player.
  • The telemetry versions in FIGS. 3 a, 3 b and 3 c can be applied to existing golf clubs. If the Telemetry capability is built into clubs during their manufacture then tone generating holes like 59, 60, 61 and 62 can be placed in the club heads. Radio telemetry can also be efficiently built into clubs during their manufacturer. FIG. 3 d shows a schematic block diagram of components of a built-in radio telemetry unit. The hand grip switch 63 detects that the player has gripped the club and activates the ball contact detector 64. The hand grip switch 63 can take any of several forms. It could be a simple pressure sensitive contact which completes a circuit; it could be a piezoelectric sensor and threshold detector; or it could be a piezoresistive sensor and threshold detector. The ball contact detector can be a microphone embedded in the club head, an accelerometer in the club head, or a piezoelectric or piezoresistive surface on the club face. When the ball contact detector 64 detects ball contact it activates the coded radio transmitter 65 which is like 57. The battery 66 can be conveniently mounted inside the club handle where it is easy to replace and can also be reasonably large without significantly changing the player's swing motion.
  • Another useful form of handgrip switch is a normally closed contact switch on the handgrip end of the shaft. When the club is lifted off the bottom of the golf club bag the switch would close to turn on coded radio transmitter 65 providing an identification signal enabling the portable player aid system to automatically determine which club has been tentatively chosen for the next stroke. A stroke result forecast would then be produced without the player having to key in a club selection or even lift the club completely out of the bag. The switch would make contact as soon as the handle of the club is lifted from contact with the bottom of the bag.
  • Operation
  • Before the hand-held unit in FIG. 1 can be used it must be loaded with course and player specific information. If an analog or digital cellular telephone connection is available then the player dials a predetermined telephone number. Based upon the location of the hand-held unit as determined by its radio location capability the player receives a list of nearby golf courses. If he or she happens to be near the clubhouse of a golf course the list consists of the courses served by that clubhouse. If the player is not near a course clubhouse he or she of receives an alphabetical list of nearby courses with a “more selections” line at the bottom a list to permit the list to be expanded until the desired course is found. Allowing for an expanded list of the golf courses permits the user to preload the hand-held unit at any time before play is to begin. This capability is particularly useful if cellular coverage does not extend to the golf course to be played. Selecting the desired course starts the course data download. Course data consists of tee and green locations measured in the geographic coordinates used by the radiolocation capability of the hand-held unit. If the hand-held unit has a graphical display then course information also includes a course map containing the features to be displayed for each hole. The player then enters or his or her identity to start a download of player specific data. If the display 11 does not include a graphics capability the player specific data is the mean distance achieved with each club in past play. If display 11 can show a graphic representation of each hole being played then a the player specific data includes the lengths and widths of the elliptical patterns 33 containing 50% of the results of previous shots taken with each of the player's clubs, omitting the putter. If adequate past playing statistics for a golfer are not available then statistics for a player of average skill are entered. Any telemetry codes that identify the player's telemetry equipped clubs are also downloaded. If a hand-held unit is to be used by more than one player then player specific information for the other players who will use the unit is also downloaded.
  • If course management desires to use it, the two way communication capability can be used to assign a tee time when play is to begin at the first tee, set whether the distance information display 19, 33 is on or off, set whether or not distances are to be displayed on the hand-held unit if it is near the center of the green, set whether the pacing timer 18 is on or off, and collect payment of green and cart rental fees. Complete blanking of the distance display would be necessary for the remaining features of the system to be used in tournament play since the normal rules of golf prohibit the use of range finding devices in such play.
  • If the cellular capability is unavailable then data is transferred using the data transfer interface 48. The data transfer interface 48 connects to some device such as a personal computer and downloads the same information as above from a local database or from remote central database. The remote central database can be maintained on an Internet site.
  • After the data has been transferred to the hand-held unit the player display 16 shows identifying initials for the first player entered into the hand-held unit's memory, the hole number display 17 shows 0 because no hole has begun yet, the time display shows the minutes remaining until tee time for the starting tee, the distance display 19 shows the distance to the starting tee if it is less than 1000 yards, the club display 20 is blank as is the stroke count display 21. If the time remaining until tee time exceeds 60 minutes then the time remaining display shows hours and minutes remaining separated by a colon. The distance display goes blank if there is insufficient received radio signal strength to produce an accurate measurement of position. This feature alerts the user to the need to reposition the hand-held unit.
  • On heavy course usage days which are typically weekend days with pleasant weather slow play is a problem for course management. To combat slow play the pacing feature has been incorporated in this invention. When it is active the time remaining display 18 on the hand-held unit shows the time remaining to play out the present hole and get to the next tee. For most players this gentle reminder would be sufficient to cause them to keep up their play pace adequately and not, for example, consume too much time hunting a hopelessly lost ball. However, the management can also use the time remaining display to make rules prohibiting slow play if that is necessary. There could be a busy course rule for example which states that a playing group loses its tee time on any hole if the fairway in front is clear and they have not left the tee before the next following group's tee time for that hole. The slow players would then have to stand aside and let the impeded following group play through and try to fit themselves into the following player stream or skip that hole and go to the next. Since the hand-held unit records the locations of all player groups on the course as they make strokes and the times at which they were there, it would be possible for management to identify habitual slow players and prohibit them from playing on busy days. A scheduled intermission feature between holes 9 and 10 recognizes the fact that courses are usually laid out to bring the players back so the clubhouse between holes 9 and 10. On hot days they are likely to appreciate a lengthened cooling break for refreshment. The time to the next tee display 18 provides an easy and convenient way for players to take a break without impeding play. Management in scheduling the pacing feature simply adds the desired break time to the scheduled time to play hole number 9. The scheduled break between holes 9 and 10 also puts some slack in the playing schedule to allow slower players to get back on time.
  • The distance displayed 19 is the distance from the present location to the next objective on the course. The radiolocation receiver 35 and microcomputer 34 determine the present location of the hand-held unit on the course. The location of the desired course objective has previously been stored in the hand-held unit memory. The microcomputer 34 in the hand-held unit uses this information in conjunction with its program instructions to compute the distance between the two points in a manner well known by those skilled in the art. In the interests of speeding play course management may choose to activate the close to the pin feature which causes the distance display to show “<20” when the hand-held unit is less than 20 yards from the center of the green. This feature reduces distractions for players when they are close enough to the pin to clearly judge distances for themselves and are likely playing putting strokes.
  • The next club display 20 designates the numbered driver clubs as a number followed by a lower case letter d, the numbered iron clubs by a numeral followed by a lower case letter i, and the unnumbered clubs by two upper case letters such as P for the putter, PW for the pitching wedge, and SW for the sand wedge.
  • When the time display 18 goes to zero indicating that tee time for the starting tee has arrived the hole number display 17 changes to the number of the starting tee. The distance display 19 shows the distance to the corresponding green. It sometimes happens that players begin on hole 10 rather than 1 if for example they are going to play only 9 holes or there is course maintenance in progress on holes 1 through 9. The next club display 20 shows the club which the player identified by the player initial 16 would typically use if that player's previous club use statistics have been entered into hand-held unit player data memory 44. In the absence of statistics for a particular player the next club display would show the club which would be used by an average player. The stroke display shows a 0 because no strokes have yet been consumed on the hole. At this point in the use cycle the next club display 20 is blinking to indicate that it can be changed by the player by using the increase button 12 or the decrease button 13 on the hand-held unit. The player can also use the cursor button 10 to select which display item blinks and can be changed by the increase or decrease buttons 12 and 13. Each press of the cursor button 10 moves the blinking location sequentially among the items which the player can control. These are the next club to be used 20, the intended direction line 32 for the next stroke, hole number being played 17, player identity 16 if multiple players are sharing a hand-held unit, and strokes used on the hole 21. The next club display 20 blinks and can be changed at will by the player who is about to strike the ball from the tee. The player increases or decreases the club display 20 until it shows the club selected by the player for the stroke. For each club the probable result 33 is shown. If the display is non-graphic showing only alphanumeric characters then the average distance for the selected club would show momentarily on the distance display until the increase or decrease button is released. Since the display already shows a club close to the appropriate one, the number of increases or decreases to make the display match the club intended is small. One press on cursor button 10 then moves the blinking to the intended direction line 32 for the stroke about to be taken. When the line 32 is blinking pressing button 12 shifts line 32 to the left; pressing button 13 shifts line 32 to the right. While at the location of the first stroke, the player presses the OK button 14 to record in hand-held unit memory 45 the fact that a stroke has been used, the club displayed by 20, the radio location position on the course at which the stroke was taken, the intended direction 32, and the time at which the stroke was taken. The first stroke will be in a course tee area for the first hole to be played but these are typically fairly long to allow players of different abilities to play the course comfortably by using one of three or more tee locations usually designated in order of increasing distance from the pin as ladies', men's, and professional. For this reason it is necessary for the locations of tee strokes as well as the other strokes in a round to have their positions recorded.
  • If the player is using telemetry equipped golf clubs as shown in FIG. 3 a-3 d adapted to work with the hand-held unit then nearly all strokes and clubs are automatically registered. Some short putts may be so soft as to be undetectable by the telemetry and still have to be registered manually by pressing OK button 14. For most strokes the player then simply edits the intended direction 32 if it is not toward the center of the green 25, enters penalty strokes, and corrects any erroneously registered strokes.
  • After a stroke is registered automatically or by pressing the OK button 14 the display changes in one of two ways depending upon whether the hand-held unit is being used by a single or multiple players. If a single player is using it then after a stroke is recorded the stroke display 21 increments by one and blinks to allow the player to easily use the increase button 12 to register a penalty stroke if one should be called for by the results of the stroke just previously registered. The club display 20 shows the club just previously recorded for the stroke. The direction line 32 shows the intended direction just previously recorded for the stroke. In the event that the player pressed the OK button 14 in error without actually taking a stroke or recorded a club or intended direction not actually used the stroke can be canceled by decreasing the stroke count display 21 by one using the decrease button 13 and a message is shown on display 11 in place of part of the graphical display. That message is “Canceling last stroke also erases its lie, intended direction, and club—press CURSOR to proceed.” The message remains displayed until it is acknowledged by the player pressing the cursor button 10. Whether or not the previous stroke has been canceled, after cursor button 10 is pressed the display returns to its original configuration ready to register a stroke. The display window 11 shows player identity 16, hole being played 17, minutes remaining to get to the next hole tee 18, yards 19 to the center of the green of the hole being played, next club 20 selected (flashing), and strokes used on the present hole so far 21. The direction line 32 extends from the present position 31 to the center of the green 25. If the player using the hand-held unit singly does not press any buttons after registering a stroke and moves more than 10 yards from the lie recorded the display reverts to the numerical configuration with the approximate club to be used next 20 blinking. After play for a hole is complete and the hand-held unit leaves the vicinity of the green and is transported to near the tee for the next hole, the hole number 17 advances to the next hole number to be played and time display 18 changes to the time remaining to complete that next hole. Hand-held unit travel from a green to the next tee area is easily detectable by the microcomputer in the hand-held unit since the radiolocation system continually updates its present position data and the locations of greens and tee areas have been previously stored in the hand-held unit memory. Thus a player using a hand-held unit by himself without telemetry equipped clubs ordinarily would simply change the club display and direction displays 20,32 and press the OK button 14 as the round is played. With telemetry equipped clubs the player would not need to change the club display 20 and would rarely need to press the OK 14 button to correctly register strokes.
  • After each stroke on a hole the player moves to the ball's new location and the graphical display 11 changes as shown in FIG. 4 a. The display shows the portion of the golf course between the player's position 31 and the green 25. In the particular example shown in FIG. 4 a the player is in an adjacent fairway while playing hole number 3 shown on hole display 17, has 9 minutes remaining to complete the hole as shown on the time display 18, is 95 yards from the middle of the green as shown on the distance display 19, has chosen to use a nine iron as shown by the next club display 20, has a 50% probability that the ball will land within contour 33, and has previously used one stroke on the hole as shown on the stroke display 21.
  • When the player reaches the green the display changes as shown in FIG. 4 b. Shown on the display are the edge of the green 24, the player's location 31, the cup 67, and a straight line 68, between the player and the cup. The contour of the green and the grain of the grass impose forces on the ball tending to slow or speed it and tending to make it break from the ideal straight line 68. Those forces pushing on the ball are displayed as lines 70 toward successive possible ball positions along line 68. The length of each line toward a ball position is proportional to the magnitude of the force at that position on the green. The direction of lines 70 indicate the direction of the force pressing on the ball at each position. In the particular example in FIG. 4 b the ball traveling along line 68 would experience a small accelerating force with a break toward the left at all places except at and immediately before and after position 69. At position 69 the ball experiences a retarding force and a significant break to the right due to a transition up a short incline to a higher level near the cup. The distance display 19 shows an estimate of the distance the putt will break left or right from a straight line between the player's position and the cup. In the particular example shown in FIG. 4 b the handheld unit has estimated from the green contour and position data that the putt will break 2 feet to the right.
  • The location of cup 67 may not have been included in the course data downloaded to the portable unit. This may be the case because the cup locations are often changed daily and course management may find it inconvenient to update the course database that often. If the cup location is not in the downloaded course data then the handheld unit could be used to enter it. A term CP representing the word cup could be added to the club list for club display 20. The player would then scroll the club list to CP and press the OK button 14 while standing over the cup to store the cup location without recording a stroke.
  • If multiple players are sharing a hand-held unit then after a stroke is registered by pressing the OK button 14 the display changes to show the stroke count 21 increased by one and no display elements blinking for an interval of about 5 seconds. After the 5 second interval for the first player to see what has been registered the displayed player initials 16 change to those for another player and blink. If the player designated is the next to take a stroke then that player simply moves to his or her ball, presses the cursor button 10 to make the next club display 20 blink, adjusts the club display to the club chosen using the increase 12 or decrease 13 button, presses cursor button 10 to make the direction line 32 blink, moves the line display with increase 12 or decrease 13 buttons, and registers a stroke by pressing the OK button. Thus it is seen that two players can share a hand-held unit with nearly the same ease of operation as a single player. Four players sharing a hand-held unit would easily use the increase 12 or decrease 13 buttons to select the correct player initials before each stroke. Yet at any time the cursor button 10 and increase 12 and decrease 13 buttons can be used to correct the displayed club, stroke count, and hole number for any of the players.
  • If no button is pressed within 15 minutes since the last button press, then the hand-held unit automatically records its present position in memory to facilitate slow play detection.
  • At any time there are two other hand held unit golf operating modes in addition to PLAY which players can access by pressing menu button 9, the cursor button 10 to move the cursor to golf, the OK button 14 to select golf and make the display show the three available golf modes which are named PLAY, CARD and SHOW. A golf mode is selected using the cursor 10 and OK 14 buttons. PLAY is the round data collection playing mode described above. The CARD mode causes the display to show a player's score card for the round up to the present hole. The SHOW mode displays previous strokes taken during a round. To show previous stroke the hand-held units' buttons are used to set the hole number 17 and the stroke number 21. The graphical display then shows a line extending from the location where the stroke was taken to the location of the next stroke. The club display 20 shows the club used for that particular stroke. The direction display line 32 shows the stroke's intended direction. The distance display 19 shows the distance achieved with the caption changed from “YRDS TO GREEN” to simply “YARDS”. If the stroke was the final stroke on a hole then an X shows the location of that final stroke without any direction or distance information display. This SHOW mode lets a player review any previous stoke in a round or replay the entire round if that is desired.
  • After play for a round is finished the data collected for each player using a hand-held unit is up loaded to a database. The database contains information on previous rounds played by each player and is the source of information about player performance. The database can be maintained on a local computer, at some remote central site preferably accessible by the Internet, or copies of the database can be maintained at both local and remote central locations. If the cellular telephone service is available the upload data transfer can be accomplished by dialing a predetermined telephone number to establish a connection with the computer maintaining the player's database. Alternatively the data transfer interface 48 can be used to connect with a local computer. Data transferred to a local computer can be entered into a locally maintained database for the player and/or forwarded onto the player's remote central database.
  • Wherever the database is maintained, several outputs can be generated from it. The database contains the identity of the player and the course, the location of each stroke taken during a round, and the data and time of play. For any particular round a souvenir plot of the course and the path of the strokes taken by the player can be printed along with a scorecard as shown in FIG. 5. Certificates commemorating special events such as a hole-in-one, handicap reduction, or other significant improvement can be printed. Past play data allows each player's performance to be analyzed. The distance and directional accuracy of each stoke taken with each club can be computed from the ball position data stored. From these data the probable result contour 33 for each club can be computed for a player. The player's skills in separate portions of the game such as driving, approach shots, sand trap strokes, and putting can be compared with averages for players of similar skill level to determine which portion should be worked on first to gain improvement in game scores.
  • Conclusion and Scope
  • From the above description it is seen that the present invention is a significant improvement over the previous golf round data system. It collects more accuracy data, presents it to the player more conveniently, takes advantage of cellular telephone capabilities, does not necessarily need equipment installation at the golf course, and makes the resulting data easily accessible to the player anywhere there is Internet access.
  • The particular embodiment described above is not the only possible configuration of this invention. For example, the monochrome graphic display described could be changed to a multicolor unit to use colored regions in place of lines to designate course areas. The radio location receiver could be connected wirelessly and not be within the same enclosure. The probable result display could be shown as a rectangle rather than an ellipse; or the probable result could be shown as a scatter plot displaying the range and accuracy of previous strokes taken with the chosen club. The displayed objective on the green could be the cup rather than the center of the green surface. The hand-held unit could be made smaller and less expensive by substituting an alphanumeric display for the graphic display described, and the device would still be a significant improvement over the previous art. The cellular feature could be omitted for hand-held units which are always to be used at a course equipped with local data transfer capability, and they would cost less and serve the players just as well. The collected round data could be maintained on some other easily accessible data repository instead of the Internet web site described.
  • The stroke result forecast could use a club or a series of clubs automatically chosen by a computer connected to the display unit based upon location and skill data instead of having the user select a club before displaying a forecast. The system would thus have a club recommendation capability. In the preferred embodiment described the automatically generated direction indication is shown toward the green. Alternatively it could be computed to maximize the player's chance of landing the ball on the fairway or green so that on long dogleg holes or those with hazards on one side of a fairway the initial direction indication may not be straight toward the green. The system would thus produce playing strategy recommendations.
  • Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined not by the particular embodiment illustrated, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.

Claims (39)

1. A method of using a computing device to forecast the result of a golf stroke, the method comprising:
a) storing performance data in a memory;
b) receiving an input indicative of a selected club;
c) determining a range or probable outcomes of a golf stroke based on the performance data stored in memory and the selected club; and
d) displaying the range of probable outcomes to the player on a display connected to the computing device.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the performance data represents typical performance of a particular player.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the performance data represents typical performance for a selected group of players.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving an input comprises receiving a signal emitted by the selected club.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving an input comprises receiving user input via an input device.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein said input indicative of a selected club is automatically generated.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein determining a range of probable outcomes of a golf stroke comprises determining the likely ball travel distances.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein determining a range of probable outcomes of a golf stroke comprises determining a probable landing area on a golf hole within which the ball will probably land.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein displaying a range of probable outcomes to the player comprises displaying a graphical representation of at least a portion of the golf current golf hole showing the probable landing area.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein the probable landing area is indicated by a scatter plot of likely ball locations after a stroke.
11. The method of claim 1 wherein displaying a range of probable outcomes to the player includes displaying the ball travel path on a graphical representation of at least a portion of the current golf hole.
12. A method of using a computing device to forecast the result of a golf stroke, the method comprising:
a) storing golf course putting green data in a memory;
b) determining a player's current location on a current golf hole;
c) determining an outcome of a golf putting stroke based on the golf course putting green data stored in memory and the player's current location; and
d) displaying the outcome to the player on a display connected to the computing device.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein determining a player's current location on a golf hole comprises receiving location signals with a positioning receiver operatively connected to the computing device and determining the player's current location based on the locating signals.
14. The method of claim 12 wherein determining an outcome of a golf putting stroke based on the golf course data comprises determining the likely break of a putted ball from a straight line between the player's current location and the cup.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein determining the likely break of a putted ball comprises storing break data derived from a series of test putts in memory and determining the likely break of a putted ball based on the stored break data.
16. The method of claim 14 wherein determining the likely break of a putted ball comprises storing topographical data in a memory and computing the likely break of a putted ball based on the stored topographical data.
17. The method of claim 14 wherein displaying the outcome comprises displaying break information on an alphanumeric display.
18. The method of claim 12 wherein displaying the outcome comprises displaying the likely ball travel path on a graphical representation of at least a portion of the current golf hole.
19. A golf aid comprising:
a) memory for storing performance data;
b) a processor to determine a selected club and to determine a range of probable outcomes of a golf stroke based on the selected club and the performance data stored in memory; and
c) a display to display the range of probable outcomes of the golf stroke.
20. The golf aid of claim 19 wherein the memory stores performance data representing the typical performance of a particular player.
21. The golf aid of claim 19 wherein the memory stores performance data representing the typical performance of a selected group of players.
22. The golf aid of claim 19 further comprising a detector connected to the processor to detect a signal emitted by a golf club and generate a detection signal, and wherein the processor determines the selected club based on the detection signal from the detector.
23. The golf aid of claim 19 further comprising an input device connected to the processor to receive user input, and wherein the processor determines the selected club based on user input.
24. The golf aid of claim 19 wherein the range of probable outcomes determined by the processor includes a range of ball travel distances.
25. The golf aid of claim 24 wherein the display is an alphanumeric for displaying the range of ball travel distances.
26. The golf aid of claim 19 wherein the range of probable outcomes determined by the processor includes a probable landing area on a golf hole within which the ball will probably land.
27. The golf aid of claim 26 wherein the display is a graphical display that shows the probable landing area on a graphical representation of at least a portion of the current golf hole.
28. The golf aid of claim 19 wherein the display is an alphanumeric display.
29. The golf aid of claim 26 wherein the probable landing area is indicated by a scatter plot of likely ball landing locations.
30. A golf aid comprising:
a) memory for storing golf course putting green data;
b) a processor to determine a player's current location on a golf hole and to determine an outcome of a golf putting stroke based on the player's current location and the golf course putting green data stored in memory; and
c) a display to display the outcome of the golf putting stroke.
31. The golf aid of claim 30 further comprising a receiver connected to the processor to receive signals indicative of the current location, and wherein the processor determines the player's current location based on the received signals.
32. The golf aid of claim 31 wherein the received signals are location signals from a positioning system.
33. The golf aid of claim 30 wherein the outcome determined by the processor includes the likely break of a putted ball.
34. The golf aid of claim 33 wherein the memory stores break data derived from a series of test putts and the processor determines the likely break of a putted ball based on the stored break data.
35. The golf aid of claim 33 wherein the memory stores topographical data and the processor determines the likely break of a putted ball based on the stored topographical data.
36. The golf aid of claim 33 wherein displaying the outcome comprises displaying break information on an alphanumeric display.
37. The golf aid of claim 30 wherein the display is an alphanumeric display.
38. The golf aid of claim 30 wherein the display is a graphical display.
39. The golf aid device of claim 38 wherein the display shows a representation of the forces acting on the putted ball.
US11/548,323 2000-12-19 2006-10-11 Golf player aid with stroke result forecasting Active 2026-06-04 US9656147B2 (en)

Priority Applications (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US11/548,323 US9656147B2 (en) 2000-12-19 2006-10-11 Golf player aid with stroke result forecasting
US15/489,481 US20170216705A1 (en) 2000-12-19 2017-04-17 Golf player aid with stroke result forecasting
US16/216,597 US20190374845A1 (en) 2000-12-19 2018-12-11 Golf player aid with stroke result forecasting
US17/460,105 US11752418B2 (en) 2000-12-19 2021-08-27 Golf player aid with stroke result forecasting

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US09/739,503 US7121962B2 (en) 2000-12-19 2000-12-19 Golf round data system with cellular telephone and player help features
US11/548,323 US9656147B2 (en) 2000-12-19 2006-10-11 Golf player aid with stroke result forecasting

Related Parent Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US09/739,503 Continuation-In-Part US7121962B2 (en) 2000-12-19 2000-12-19 Golf round data system with cellular telephone and player help features
US09/739,503 Division US7121962B2 (en) 2000-12-19 2000-12-19 Golf round data system with cellular telephone and player help features

Related Child Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US15/489,481 Continuation US20170216705A1 (en) 2000-12-19 2017-04-17 Golf player aid with stroke result forecasting

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20070129178A1 true US20070129178A1 (en) 2007-06-07
US9656147B2 US9656147B2 (en) 2017-05-23

Family

ID=32070247

Family Applications (8)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US09/739,503 Expired - Lifetime US7121962B2 (en) 2000-12-19 2000-12-19 Golf round data system with cellular telephone and player help features
US11/548,323 Active 2026-06-04 US9656147B2 (en) 2000-12-19 2006-10-11 Golf player aid with stroke result forecasting
US11/548,320 Expired - Lifetime US8142304B2 (en) 2000-12-19 2006-10-11 Golf round data system golf club telemetry
US13/372,210 Expired - Lifetime US8535170B2 (en) 2000-12-19 2012-02-13 Device and method for displaying golf shot data
US13/774,386 Expired - Lifetime US8758170B2 (en) 2000-12-19 2013-02-22 Device and method for displaying golf shot data
US15/489,481 Abandoned US20170216705A1 (en) 2000-12-19 2017-04-17 Golf player aid with stroke result forecasting
US16/216,597 Abandoned US20190374845A1 (en) 2000-12-19 2018-12-11 Golf player aid with stroke result forecasting
US17/460,105 Active US11752418B2 (en) 2000-12-19 2021-08-27 Golf player aid with stroke result forecasting

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US09/739,503 Expired - Lifetime US7121962B2 (en) 2000-12-19 2000-12-19 Golf round data system with cellular telephone and player help features

Family Applications After (6)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US11/548,320 Expired - Lifetime US8142304B2 (en) 2000-12-19 2006-10-11 Golf round data system golf club telemetry
US13/372,210 Expired - Lifetime US8535170B2 (en) 2000-12-19 2012-02-13 Device and method for displaying golf shot data
US13/774,386 Expired - Lifetime US8758170B2 (en) 2000-12-19 2013-02-22 Device and method for displaying golf shot data
US15/489,481 Abandoned US20170216705A1 (en) 2000-12-19 2017-04-17 Golf player aid with stroke result forecasting
US16/216,597 Abandoned US20190374845A1 (en) 2000-12-19 2018-12-11 Golf player aid with stroke result forecasting
US17/460,105 Active US11752418B2 (en) 2000-12-19 2021-08-27 Golf player aid with stroke result forecasting

Country Status (1)

Country Link
US (8) US7121962B2 (en)

Cited By (91)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20080207357A1 (en) * 2007-02-09 2008-08-28 Chris Savarese Combined range and tag finder
US20080254916A1 (en) * 2007-04-11 2008-10-16 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Method of providing golf contents in mobile terminal
US20090036237A1 (en) * 2007-08-03 2009-02-05 Pro Tee Systems, Inc. Golf gaming systems and methods
US20090124433A1 (en) * 2007-11-05 2009-05-14 Britton Ryan M Golf assistance device and method thereof
US20090210263A1 (en) * 2008-02-19 2009-08-20 Visual Golf Solutions, Llc Golf course time management system
US20090209358A1 (en) * 2008-02-20 2009-08-20 Niegowski James A System and method for tracking one or more rounds of golf
US20090233735A1 (en) * 2008-03-17 2009-09-17 Chris Savarese Golf data recorder with integrated missing club reminder and theft prevention system
US20100228366A1 (en) * 2009-03-05 2010-09-09 Peter Sanders System And Method For Analyzing Golfer Driving Accuracy
US20100308105A1 (en) * 2008-03-17 2010-12-09 Chris Savarese Golf club apparatuses and methods
US20110028230A1 (en) * 2009-07-31 2011-02-03 Callaway Golf Company Method and system for shot tracking
US20110098924A1 (en) * 2009-10-28 2011-04-28 Callaway Golf Company Method and device for determining a distance
US20110184538A1 (en) * 2010-01-28 2011-07-28 Epic Think Media, Llc Electronic Golf Assistant Utilizing Electronic Storing
US20110213474A1 (en) * 2008-11-05 2011-09-01 Egtron Co., Ltd Intelligent, real-time golf tournament management system and terminal for use therewith
US20110230986A1 (en) * 2008-02-20 2011-09-22 Nike, Inc. Systems and Methods for Storing and Analyzing Golf Data, Including Community and Individual Golf Data Collection and Storage at a Central Hub
US20110230273A1 (en) * 2008-02-20 2011-09-22 Nike, Inc. Systems and Methods for Storing and Analyzing Golf Data, Including Community and Individual Golf Data Collection and Storage at a Central Hub
US20120071277A1 (en) * 2008-06-04 2012-03-22 Callaway Golf Company Golf gps
US8142304B2 (en) 2000-12-19 2012-03-27 Appalachian Technology, Llc Golf round data system golf club telemetry
US8172702B2 (en) 2000-06-16 2012-05-08 Skyhawke Technologies, Llc. Personal golfing assistant and method and system for graphically displaying golf related information and for collection, processing and distribution of golf related data
US20120115650A1 (en) * 2009-06-05 2012-05-10 Callaway Golf Company Gps device
US8221269B2 (en) 2000-06-16 2012-07-17 Skyhawke Technologies, Llc Personal golfing assistant and method and system for graphically displaying golf related information and for collection, processing and distribution of golf related data
WO2013081890A2 (en) 2011-11-28 2013-06-06 Radar Corporation Golf club apparatuses and methods
WO2013081891A2 (en) 2011-11-28 2013-06-06 Radar Corporation Golf club apparatuses and methods
US8465376B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2013-06-18 Blast Motion, Inc. Wireless golf club shot count system
WO2013106574A1 (en) * 2012-01-10 2013-07-18 Jack Peterson Digital compass ball marker
US20130196792A1 (en) * 2012-01-30 2013-08-01 Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd System for providing information on playing golf
WO2013138381A2 (en) 2012-03-13 2013-09-19 Radar Corporation Golf club apparatuses and methods
US8613676B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2013-12-24 Blast Motion, Inc. Handle integrated motion capture element mount
US8700354B1 (en) 2013-06-10 2014-04-15 Blast Motion Inc. Wireless motion capture test head system
US8702516B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2014-04-22 Blast Motion Inc. Motion event recognition system and method
US8827824B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2014-09-09 Blast Motion, Inc. Broadcasting system for broadcasting images with augmented motion data
US8903521B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2014-12-02 Blast Motion Inc. Motion capture element
US8905855B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2014-12-09 Blast Motion Inc. System and method for utilizing motion capture data
US8913134B2 (en) 2012-01-17 2014-12-16 Blast Motion Inc. Initializing an inertial sensor using soft constraints and penalty functions
US8941723B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2015-01-27 Blast Motion Inc. Portable wireless mobile device motion capture and analysis system and method
US8944928B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2015-02-03 Blast Motion Inc. Virtual reality system for viewing current and previously stored or calculated motion data
US8994826B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2015-03-31 Blast Motion Inc. Portable wireless mobile device motion capture and analysis system and method
US9005047B2 (en) 2007-10-25 2015-04-14 Tag Golf, Llc Apparatuses, methods and systems relating to semi-automatic golf data collecting and recording
US9028337B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2015-05-12 Blast Motion Inc. Motion capture element mount
US9033810B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2015-05-19 Blast Motion Inc. Motion capture element mount
US9039527B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2015-05-26 Blast Motion Inc. Broadcasting method for broadcasting images with augmented motion data
US9052201B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2015-06-09 Blast Motion Inc. Calibration system for simultaneous calibration of multiple motion capture elements
US9076041B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2015-07-07 Blast Motion Inc. Motion event recognition and video synchronization system and method
US9235765B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2016-01-12 Blast Motion Inc. Video and motion event integration system
US9247212B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2016-01-26 Blast Motion Inc. Intelligent motion capture element
US9261526B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2016-02-16 Blast Motion Inc. Fitting system for sporting equipment
US9320957B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2016-04-26 Blast Motion Inc. Wireless and visual hybrid motion capture system
US9339714B2 (en) 2014-05-20 2016-05-17 Arccos Golf Llc System and method for monitoring performance characteristics associated with user activities involving swinging instruments
US9375624B2 (en) 2011-04-28 2016-06-28 Nike, Inc. Golf clubs and golf club heads
US9396385B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2016-07-19 Blast Motion Inc. Integrated sensor and video motion analysis method
US9401178B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2016-07-26 Blast Motion Inc. Event analysis system
US9406336B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2016-08-02 Blast Motion Inc. Multi-sensor event detection system
US9409076B2 (en) 2011-04-28 2016-08-09 Nike, Inc. Golf clubs and golf club heads
US9409073B2 (en) 2011-04-28 2016-08-09 Nike, Inc. Golf clubs and golf club heads
US9418705B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2016-08-16 Blast Motion Inc. Sensor and media event detection system
US9427639B2 (en) 2011-04-05 2016-08-30 Nike, Inc. Automatic club setting and ball flight optimization
US9433844B2 (en) 2011-04-28 2016-09-06 Nike, Inc. Golf clubs and golf club heads
US9433845B2 (en) 2011-04-28 2016-09-06 Nike, Inc. Golf clubs and golf club heads
US9446294B2 (en) 2009-01-20 2016-09-20 Nike, Inc. Golf club and golf club head structures
US9486669B2 (en) 2008-02-20 2016-11-08 Nike, Inc. Systems and methods for storing and analyzing golf data, including community and individual golf data collection and storage at a central hub
US9489494B2 (en) 2014-06-20 2016-11-08 Dunlop Sports Company Limited Recommendation engine
US9526958B2 (en) 2012-01-10 2016-12-27 Jack W. Peterson Digital compass ball marker
US9597576B2 (en) 2008-09-29 2017-03-21 Jack W. Peterson Method and device for improving putting
US9607652B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2017-03-28 Blast Motion Inc. Multi-sensor event detection and tagging system
US9604142B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2017-03-28 Blast Motion Inc. Portable wireless mobile device motion capture data mining system and method
US9610480B2 (en) 2014-06-20 2017-04-04 Nike, Inc. Golf club head or other ball striking device having impact-influencing body features
US9619891B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2017-04-11 Blast Motion Inc. Event analysis and tagging system
US9622361B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2017-04-11 Blast Motion Inc. Enclosure and mount for motion capture element
US9623284B2 (en) 2008-02-20 2017-04-18 Karsten Manufacturing Corporation Systems and methods for storing and analyzing golf data, including community and individual golf data collection and storage at a central hub
US9626554B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2017-04-18 Blast Motion Inc. Motion capture system that combines sensors with different measurement ranges
US9646209B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2017-05-09 Blast Motion Inc. Sensor and media event detection and tagging system
US9643049B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2017-05-09 Blast Motion Inc. Shatter proof enclosure and mount for a motion capture element
US9662551B2 (en) 2010-11-30 2017-05-30 Nike, Inc. Golf club head or other ball striking device having impact-influencing body features
US9694267B1 (en) 2016-07-19 2017-07-04 Blast Motion Inc. Swing analysis method using a swing plane reference frame
US9746354B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2017-08-29 Blast Motion Inc. Elastomer encased motion sensor package
US9770639B2 (en) 2015-07-21 2017-09-26 Arccos Golf, Llc System and method for monitoring performance characteristics associated with user activities involving swinging instruments
US9925433B2 (en) 2011-04-28 2018-03-27 Nike, Inc. Golf clubs and golf club heads
US9940508B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2018-04-10 Blast Motion Inc. Event detection, confirmation and publication system that integrates sensor data and social media
US10022595B2 (en) 2016-02-11 2018-07-17 Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. Golf club head customization
US10124230B2 (en) 2016-07-19 2018-11-13 Blast Motion Inc. Swing analysis method using a sweet spot trajectory
US10137347B2 (en) 2016-05-02 2018-11-27 Nike, Inc. Golf clubs and golf club heads having a sensor
US10159885B2 (en) 2016-05-02 2018-12-25 Nike, Inc. Swing analysis system using angular rate and linear acceleration sensors
US10207170B2 (en) 2013-11-06 2019-02-19 Percentageplay Golf, Llc Combining statistically determined capabilities of a golfer with golf course data to aid shot selection
US10220285B2 (en) 2016-05-02 2019-03-05 Nike, Inc. Golf clubs and golf club heads having a sensor
US10226681B2 (en) 2016-05-02 2019-03-12 Nike, Inc. Golf clubs and golf club heads having a plurality of sensors for detecting one or more swing parameters
US10254139B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2019-04-09 Blast Motion Inc. Method of coupling a motion sensor to a piece of equipment
US10265602B2 (en) 2016-03-03 2019-04-23 Blast Motion Inc. Aiming feedback system with inertial sensors
US10682562B2 (en) 2017-01-17 2020-06-16 Arccos Golf Llc Autonomous personalized golf recommendation and analysis environment
US10786728B2 (en) 2017-05-23 2020-09-29 Blast Motion Inc. Motion mirroring system that incorporates virtual environment constraints
US11565163B2 (en) 2015-07-16 2023-01-31 Blast Motion Inc. Equipment fitting system that compares swing metrics
US11577142B2 (en) 2015-07-16 2023-02-14 Blast Motion Inc. Swing analysis system that calculates a rotational profile
US11833406B2 (en) 2015-07-16 2023-12-05 Blast Motion Inc. Swing quality measurement system

Families Citing this family (81)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2002200206A (en) * 2000-12-28 2002-07-16 Asobous:Kk Method for retrieving instruction for way of moving body in sports using mobile object image communication
US20020099457A1 (en) * 2001-01-25 2002-07-25 Fredlund John R. System and method for representing an activity involving a route along a plurality of locations
US7063619B2 (en) * 2001-03-29 2006-06-20 Interactive Telegames, Llc Method and apparatus for identifying game players and game moves
US20040204257A1 (en) * 2001-08-01 2004-10-14 Bogie Boscha System for and a method of manufacturing personal golf putters
US20030153395A1 (en) * 2002-02-14 2003-08-14 Lobeck David P. Golf practice device
US20030195787A1 (en) * 2002-04-11 2003-10-16 Brunk April Marie Method of providing expert advice over a communications network
US20030211888A1 (en) 2002-05-13 2003-11-13 Interactive Telegames, Llc Method and apparatus using insertably-removable auxiliary devices to play games over a communications link
US6691032B1 (en) * 2002-09-09 2004-02-10 Groundspeak, Inc. System and method for executing user-definable events triggered through geolocational data describing zones of influence
US7403189B2 (en) * 2003-08-08 2008-07-22 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Graphical calculator
US20050096761A1 (en) * 2003-11-03 2005-05-05 Hanover Michael D.Jr. Golf score and information device and system
US8662973B1 (en) * 2004-03-05 2014-03-04 Roger Lynn Sorrell Method and apparatus for tracking movement of a ball
US20050240294A1 (en) * 2004-04-27 2005-10-27 Jones George P Golf shot recording system
US20050250590A1 (en) * 2004-05-04 2005-11-10 Gps Industries, Inc. Method for conducting a multi-golf course performance contest
FI125048B (en) * 2004-06-16 2015-05-15 Suunto Oy Procedure in connection with a wrist computer and a wrist computer system
WO2006041485A1 (en) * 2004-10-01 2006-04-20 Morse Kevin C Golf game managenent system
US20060247807A1 (en) * 2005-04-12 2006-11-02 Jonathan Bernstein Method and system for calculating and communicating golf information
US20070072692A1 (en) * 2005-05-12 2007-03-29 Oakley William J Golf Course Du Jour
US20070060408A1 (en) * 2005-08-31 2007-03-15 Motorola, Inc. Method and system for location based game services for wireless devices
US7500916B2 (en) * 2005-11-07 2009-03-10 Microsoft Corporation Game strategy analysis tool generating a two dimensional image overlaid with telemetry data
US20070249426A1 (en) * 2006-04-04 2007-10-25 Mark Gialo Electronic golf scoring and match competition system
US7806777B2 (en) * 2006-04-18 2010-10-05 World Golf Tour, Inc. Automatically adapting virtual equipment model
US20080058125A1 (en) * 2006-08-31 2008-03-06 Nguyen Frank T Mobile phone system and method for self-caddy
US20080108456A1 (en) * 2006-11-02 2008-05-08 Bonito Anthony P Golf scoring, marketing and reporting system and method of operation
US8708841B2 (en) * 2007-02-07 2014-04-29 Skyhawke Technologies, Llc Systems and methods for golf performance analytics
US8364293B2 (en) * 2007-02-07 2013-01-29 Skyhawke Technologies, Llc Situation-neutral golf metrics systems and methods
US8620463B2 (en) 2007-02-07 2013-12-31 Skyhawke Technologies, Llc Systems and methods for golf analytics visualization
US20080201107A1 (en) * 2007-02-07 2008-08-21 Doherty Matthew P Coaching aid for golf
NZ553792A (en) * 2007-03-13 2009-07-31 Peter Andrew Englefield Golf club selector
US20090017944A1 (en) * 2007-07-12 2009-01-15 Chris Savarese Apparatuses, methods and systems relating to automatic golf data collecting and recording
US20090079625A1 (en) * 2007-09-20 2009-03-26 Scott Denton Golf gps device with voice recognition
US8070628B2 (en) * 2007-09-18 2011-12-06 Callaway Golf Company Golf GPS device
US20090075761A1 (en) * 2007-09-18 2009-03-19 Joseph Balardeta Golf gps device and system
US8534121B2 (en) * 2007-11-08 2013-09-17 Acushnet Company Golf club comprising a piezoelectric sensor
GB2458100B (en) * 2008-02-29 2012-10-17 Christopher John Clegg Golf scoring and performance analysis device and system
ES2327092B1 (en) * 2008-03-03 2010-04-20 Univ. De Valladolid SYSTEM AND METHOD OF AUTOMATIC HITCH MANAGEMENT IN THE GOLF GAME.
TW200942299A (en) * 2008-04-09 2009-10-16 Chun-Sam Liu Method and device of golf aiding with function of setting specific-point diagram
US20090280930A1 (en) * 2008-05-09 2009-11-12 Tzu-Wei Lin Method and system for facilitating interaction between players on a golf course
US8647214B2 (en) * 2008-05-29 2014-02-11 Garmin Switzerland Gmbh Methods and devices for analyzing golf swings
US20090305819A1 (en) * 2008-06-04 2009-12-10 Scott Denton Golf gps device
US8512211B2 (en) * 2008-09-05 2013-08-20 Apple Inc. Method for quickstart workout generation and calibration
US9604118B2 (en) * 2008-10-09 2017-03-28 Golf Impact, Llc Golf club distributed impact sensor system for detecting impact of a golf ball with a club face
EP2243523A1 (en) * 2009-04-21 2010-10-27 Research In Motion Limited A method and portable electronic device for golf swing detection for scoring assistance
US7942762B2 (en) * 2009-06-05 2011-05-17 Callaway Golf Company GPS device
US8303311B2 (en) * 2009-09-30 2012-11-06 Forest Carl A Sport personal coach system
US20110143849A1 (en) * 2009-12-14 2011-06-16 Callaway Golf Company Method and system for shot tracking
US20110143848A1 (en) * 2009-12-16 2011-06-16 Callaway Golf Company Method and system for shot tracking
TWI481438B (en) * 2009-12-31 2015-04-21 Golfzon Co Ltd Apparatus and method for virtual golf simulation
TWI415655B (en) * 2009-12-31 2013-11-21 Golfzon Co Ltd Apparatus and method for virtual golf simulation imaging mini-map
US8882606B2 (en) * 2010-01-28 2014-11-11 Nike, Inc. Golf swing data gathering method and system
US8840483B1 (en) 2010-09-24 2014-09-23 Kinetek Sports Device, system, and method for evaluation of a swing of a piece of athletic equipment
US9197763B2 (en) * 2010-11-05 2015-11-24 Josh Baker Overlaying data in an augmented reality user interface
US9248353B1 (en) * 2010-11-10 2016-02-02 Jesse Daniel Koenig Golf club tracking system
WO2013049838A2 (en) * 2011-09-30 2013-04-04 My Line Golf, Inc. Systems and methods for displaying a golf green and a predicted path of a putt on the golf green
KR101262362B1 (en) * 2012-01-31 2013-05-08 (주) 골프존 Virtual golf simulation apparatus for supporting generation of virtual putting green and method therefor
US9415305B2 (en) * 2012-02-23 2016-08-16 International Business Machines Corporation Adaptive difficulty in a multiplayer gaming environment
US8517850B1 (en) 2012-12-11 2013-08-27 Cobra Golf Incorporated Golf club grip with device housing
US9114294B2 (en) 2012-02-28 2015-08-25 Cobra Golf Incorporated Distance gapping golf club set with dual-range club
KR101466304B1 (en) * 2012-05-09 2014-12-10 (주) 골프존 Providing system for golf information, information guiding device for providing golf information, and providing method for golf information
US20130310201A1 (en) * 2012-05-16 2013-11-21 Paul Stanley Apparatus and Method for Simulating a Golf Game Using a Driving Range and a Putting Green
US9383448B2 (en) 2012-07-05 2016-07-05 Deca System Co., Ltd. Golf GPS device with automatic hole recognition and playing hole selection
WO2014063047A1 (en) 2012-10-19 2014-04-24 Gkps Llc System, method, and computer readable storage media for managing and processing golf data
US9805231B2 (en) * 2013-03-13 2017-10-31 Tag Golf, Llc Golf data collection system with RFID in golf club
WO2014146072A1 (en) * 2013-03-15 2014-09-18 Meadows James W Apparatus and method for simulated gameplay based on a geospatial position
FR3007294B1 (en) * 2013-06-25 2015-07-31 Jean-Pierre Dolige DATA COLLECTION SYSTEM FOR GOLF
US9421440B1 (en) 2013-07-08 2016-08-23 Hon Chau Technologies for flagstick distance determination
US10220286B2 (en) * 2013-10-16 2019-03-05 Wilson Sporting Goods Co. Golf ball and caddie system
US8951149B1 (en) * 2013-12-11 2015-02-10 Michael G. Gorman Adjustable golf tee setting device with integrated ball marker and divot repair tool
US10668343B2 (en) 2014-03-25 2020-06-02 Smart Body LLC Method and apparatus for playing team golf
JP2015192686A (en) * 2014-03-31 2015-11-05 カシオ計算機株式会社 Determining apparatus, determining method, and program
US20150297970A1 (en) * 2014-04-17 2015-10-22 Izzo Golf, Inc. Portable golf data system
US20160158599A1 (en) * 2014-12-05 2016-06-09 Konstantin Roslyakov Golf Tracker
US9868045B2 (en) * 2016-02-03 2018-01-16 William Kift Stephens Golf course pace of play management system and method
US10099101B1 (en) 2017-12-07 2018-10-16 Ssg International, Llc Golf club grip with sensor housing
USD849166S1 (en) 2017-12-07 2019-05-21 Ssg International, Llc Golf putter grip
CN108786040B (en) * 2018-07-06 2020-07-21 嘉兴市品信电器有限公司 Golf ball picking robot
USD867463S1 (en) 2018-07-11 2019-11-19 Jeffrey P. Carpenter Golf scorecard
KR102170766B1 (en) * 2019-03-04 2020-10-27 주식회사 브이씨 Distance information calculation method and electrnic device where the method is applied
CN110507976A (en) * 2019-08-14 2019-11-29 梵高夫科技控股(深圳)有限公司 Golf course, golf drop point information determine method and device thereof
JP6832595B2 (en) * 2019-12-24 2021-02-24 株式会社ユピテル Equipment and programs
JP7034514B2 (en) * 2021-01-19 2022-03-14 株式会社ユピテル Equipment and programs
US20240046772A1 (en) * 2022-08-05 2024-02-08 Ksi Llc System and method for identifying misplaced golf clubs

Citations (96)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3868692A (en) * 1973-09-13 1975-02-25 Roland L Woodard Golf yardage finder
US3945646A (en) * 1974-12-23 1976-03-23 Athletic Swing Measurement, Inc. Athletic swing measurement system and method
US4142236A (en) * 1977-04-14 1979-02-27 Martz Kenneth L Electronic scorecard for golf
US4367526A (en) * 1980-09-08 1983-01-04 Mcgeary Thomas C Golf calculator
US4428057A (en) * 1981-06-09 1984-01-24 Texas Instruments Incorporated Electronic chart system
US4571684A (en) * 1983-03-25 1986-02-18 Nippondenso Co., Ltd. Map display system for vehicles
US4656476A (en) * 1985-08-26 1987-04-07 Richard Tavtigian Warning device for golf carts
US4675676A (en) * 1983-03-09 1987-06-23 Nippondenso Co. Ltd. Map display system
US4723218A (en) * 1981-05-15 1988-02-02 Nippondenso Co., Ltd. Navigator for automotive vehicles
US4737916A (en) * 1985-04-30 1988-04-12 Nippondenso Co., Ltd. Electronic map display system
US4744033A (en) * 1985-04-30 1988-05-10 Nippondenso Co., Ltd. Electronic display system
US4815020A (en) * 1987-03-09 1989-03-21 Cormier Wayne L Method and apparatus for computing golf game parameters
US4825381A (en) * 1987-03-31 1989-04-25 Rockwell International Corporation Moving map display
US5084822A (en) * 1987-12-15 1992-01-28 Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha Navigation apparatus for moving object
US5086390A (en) * 1990-01-16 1992-02-04 Matthews Gordon H System for monitoring play of a golfer
US5089826A (en) * 1989-10-24 1992-02-18 Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha Navigation system for movable body
US5097416A (en) * 1990-01-16 1992-03-17 Matthews Gordon H System for monitoring play of a golfer
US5119301A (en) * 1989-04-17 1992-06-02 Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. Vehicle location detecting system
US5189430A (en) * 1989-10-24 1993-02-23 Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha Navigation system for movable body
US5214679A (en) * 1991-06-13 1993-05-25 Robert G. Metcalf Score keeper and distance indicator for use with a golf cart
US5294110A (en) * 1992-10-27 1994-03-15 Jenkins James J Portable golf shot analyzer and club selector
US5324028A (en) * 1992-10-23 1994-06-28 Luna Luis A Intelligent golf parties guidance system
US5423549A (en) * 1990-03-09 1995-06-13 Ipu Int. Patents Utilization Ltd. Apparatus with a signal receiving unit for locating golf balls
US5487542A (en) * 1995-03-21 1996-01-30 Foley; Thomas P. Automatically-scoring golf game
US5507485A (en) * 1994-04-28 1996-04-16 Roblor Marketing Group, Inc. Golf computer and golf replay device
US5528248A (en) * 1994-08-19 1996-06-18 Trimble Navigation, Ltd. Personal digital location assistant including a memory cartridge, a GPS smart antenna and a personal computing device
US5591088A (en) * 1995-08-29 1997-01-07 Bianco; John L. Electronic golfing aid
US5626531A (en) * 1996-02-02 1997-05-06 Tee To Green Inc. Golf ball with tag, and detecting system
US5711388A (en) * 1995-07-20 1998-01-27 Golfpro International, Inc. Robotic golf caddy apparatus and method
US5740077A (en) * 1995-02-03 1998-04-14 Reeves; G. George Golf round data system
US5743815A (en) * 1996-07-18 1998-04-28 Helderman; Michael D. Golf ball and indentification system
US5751244A (en) * 1991-12-10 1998-05-12 Huston; Charles D. Method and apparatus for calibration of a GPS receiver
US5772534A (en) * 1992-09-09 1998-06-30 Dudley; Douglas P. Satellite enhanced golf information system
US5873797A (en) * 1997-04-03 1999-02-23 Leading Edge Technologies, Inc. Remote golf ball locator
US5878369A (en) * 1995-04-18 1999-03-02 Leading Edge Technologies, Inc. Golf course yardage and information system
US5889493A (en) * 1995-11-21 1999-03-30 Harada Industry Co., Ltd. Portable GPS position measuring/displaying apparatus
US5904726A (en) * 1994-01-19 1999-05-18 Golf Age Technologies Partnership Accelerometer-based golf distancing apparatus
US5904727A (en) * 1995-05-17 1999-05-18 Mobile Information Systems, Inc. Graphical fleet management methods
US6023225A (en) * 1997-07-17 2000-02-08 Jeffrey V. Boley Golf equipment inventory device
US6024655A (en) * 1997-03-31 2000-02-15 Leading Edge Technologies, Inc. Map-matching golf navigation system
US6029121A (en) * 1997-08-22 2000-02-22 Stashko; Stephen O. Golf pin distance measuring system
US6030109A (en) * 1997-05-05 2000-02-29 Lobsenz; Charles B. Golf scoring system
US6032108A (en) * 1998-07-08 2000-02-29 Seiple; Ronald Sports performance computer system and method
US6067039A (en) * 1998-11-30 2000-05-23 Pacific Design Engineering (1996 ( Ltd. Systems and methods for determining the distance between two locations
US6171199B1 (en) * 1998-08-20 2001-01-09 Callahan & Associates, Inc. Method and system of providing information on golf courses for players and for course design and modification
US6186908B1 (en) * 1998-06-24 2001-02-13 Futaba Denshi Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Retrieval apparatus for operation-management system of golf links and retrieval method therefor
US6222482B1 (en) * 1999-01-29 2001-04-24 International Business Machines Corporation Hand-held device providing a closest feature location in a three-dimensional geometry database
US20020016210A1 (en) * 1995-01-20 2002-02-07 Helber Robert A. Method and apparatus for displaying golf ball location
US20020019677A1 (en) * 2000-08-09 2002-02-14 Lee Jae Woo Method for providing personal golf record information using the internet
US6353743B1 (en) * 1997-05-09 2002-03-05 Sony Corporation Positioning system using packet radio to determine position and to obtain information relative to a position
US20020038178A1 (en) * 1999-03-05 2002-03-28 Andrea Talkenberg Golf navigation appliance
US6366856B1 (en) * 2000-11-21 2002-04-02 Qualcomm Incorporated Method and apparatus for orienting a map display in a mobile or portable device
US6366205B1 (en) * 2000-08-25 2002-04-02 Club Keeper International, Inc. System for detecting missing golf clubs
US20020052750A1 (en) * 2000-05-09 2002-05-02 Masaharu Hirooka Method of business in which GPS golf-course map data is collected and distributed
US20020060642A1 (en) * 2000-11-17 2002-05-23 Masanari Togasaka Apparatus for providing position information
US6401254B1 (en) * 2001-09-28 2002-06-11 David W. Boller Device for wearing on a hand and counting and displaying golf strokes taken per hole per game
US20020072815A1 (en) * 2000-01-21 2002-06-13 Mcdonough William A. Portable information system and method for golf play enhancement, analysis, and scorekeeping
US6520853B2 (en) * 2000-07-11 2003-02-18 Jatco Transtechnology Ltd. Game system
US6520864B1 (en) * 1999-07-07 2003-02-18 Peter J. Wilk Method for tracking golf ball
US6525690B2 (en) * 1995-09-08 2003-02-25 Prolink, Inc. Golf course yardage and information system with zone detection
US6524199B2 (en) * 2001-01-25 2003-02-25 Cheryl Goldman System for locating a golf ball
US20030103001A1 (en) * 1991-12-10 2003-06-05 Huston Charles D. Golf distance measuring system and method
US6579175B2 (en) * 2000-07-11 2003-06-17 Jatco Transtechnology Ltd. Game system for occupying a team position in a game area disposed between a plurality of teams
US6580999B2 (en) * 1999-07-12 2003-06-17 Hitachi, Ltd. Portable terminal with the function of walking navigation
US6582328B2 (en) * 1999-11-10 2003-06-24 Golflogix Inc. System and method for collecting and managing data
US20040014536A1 (en) * 2001-01-05 2004-01-22 Oblon, Spivak, Mcclelland, Maier & Neustadt, P.C. Golf ball including an electromagnetic transmitter
US6691032B1 (en) * 2002-09-09 2004-02-10 Groundspeak, Inc. System and method for executing user-definable events triggered through geolocational data describing zones of influence
US6694254B2 (en) * 1999-08-04 2004-02-17 Sony Corporation Map display
US20040058749A1 (en) * 1999-04-15 2004-03-25 Pirritano Anthony J. RF detectable golf ball
US6751552B1 (en) * 2002-06-28 2004-06-15 Garmin Ltd. Rugged, waterproof, navigation device with touch panel
US20050026709A1 (en) * 2003-07-28 2005-02-03 Palmer Peter J. Golf scorekeeping and analysis system
US20050032582A1 (en) * 2002-12-19 2005-02-10 Satayan Mahajan Method and apparatus for determining orientation and position of a moveable object
US20050037747A1 (en) * 2003-06-26 2005-02-17 Geary John N. System and method for dissemination of information in a limited-access environment
US20050037872A1 (en) * 2001-01-25 2005-02-17 Fredlund John R. System and method for representing an activity involving a route along a plurality of locations
US6862525B1 (en) * 1999-11-01 2005-03-01 Garmin Corporation GPS device with compass and altimeter and method for displaying navigation information
US20050085316A1 (en) * 2003-10-20 2005-04-21 Exelys Llc Golf ball location system
US20050096761A1 (en) * 2003-11-03 2005-05-05 Hanover Michael D.Jr. Golf score and information device and system
US20050101411A1 (en) * 2003-11-10 2005-05-12 Sharon Stiller Golf ball locator
US20050101415A1 (en) * 2003-11-12 2005-05-12 Mark Sweeney Topography linked golf aid
US6898520B2 (en) * 2001-12-20 2005-05-24 Garmin Ltd. Systems and methods for a navigational device with forced layer switching based on memory constraints
US6900759B1 (en) * 1999-07-27 2005-05-31 Muneomi Katayama Terminal equipment of golf play information and analyzing system thereof
US20060030433A1 (en) * 2004-08-04 2006-02-09 Jeff Horsley Golf course location and distance measuring system
US6998965B1 (en) * 2001-01-26 2006-02-14 Edge Technology Enhanced golf range play using RFID and GPS
US7010550B2 (en) * 2000-01-14 2006-03-07 Tarlie Martin B System for and method of golf performance recordation and analysis
US7030736B2 (en) * 2004-06-03 2006-04-18 Brunswick Bowling & Billiards Corporation Radio frequency identification (RFID) pin detection system
US20060105857A1 (en) * 2004-11-17 2006-05-18 Stark David A Athletic ball telemetry apparatus and method of use thereof
US20070016438A1 (en) * 2000-07-27 2007-01-18 Pro Link Solutions, Llc Method and system for allocating revenue derived from use of GPS-equipped golf carts
US20070021226A1 (en) * 2005-07-19 2007-01-25 Dan Tyroler Method and apparatus for tracking objects in flight such as golf balls and the like
US7175177B2 (en) * 2000-07-05 2007-02-13 Fujitsu Limited Golf data management system, data center, and method of managing golf data
US7180451B2 (en) * 2002-01-22 2007-02-20 Gps Industries, Inc. Endurable sports PDA with communications capabilities and accessories therefor
US20070060408A1 (en) * 2005-08-31 2007-03-15 Motorola, Inc. Method and system for location based game services for wireless devices
US20070072692A1 (en) * 2005-05-12 2007-03-29 Oakley William J Golf Course Du Jour
US20070078018A1 (en) * 2005-09-30 2007-04-05 Norman Kellogg Golf range with automated ranging system
US20070087866A1 (en) * 2000-06-16 2007-04-19 Meadows James W Personal golfing assistant and method and system for graphically displaying golf related information and for collection, processing and distribution of golf related data
US7207902B1 (en) * 2004-12-06 2007-04-24 Thomas B Hamlin Method and apparatus for locating and recording the position of a golf ball during a golf game
US20070099715A1 (en) * 2005-11-02 2007-05-03 Jones Richard V Location-based golf information systems and methods

Family Cites Families (199)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2002165A (en) 1933-07-08 1935-05-21 Charles A Winslow Air cleaner
US3270564A (en) * 1964-05-18 1966-09-06 James W Evans Athletic swing measurement system
US3937466A (en) * 1973-10-15 1976-02-10 Candor James T Method for playing strategy golf
JPS5545961B2 (en) * 1973-11-19 1980-11-20
US4220992A (en) 1978-11-03 1980-09-02 Blood Thomas S Portable event analysis device
US4283057A (en) * 1979-09-28 1981-08-11 Ragan James T Golf club
US4480310A (en) 1980-05-30 1984-10-30 Alvarez Luis W Dead reckoning range finding device for cart
US4419655A (en) 1980-07-30 1983-12-06 Precision Golf Design, Inc. Golf course play indicator devices
JPS57186111A (en) 1981-05-13 1982-11-16 Nissan Motor Co Ltd Map display device for vehicle
EP0069965B1 (en) 1981-07-07 1986-10-15 Nippondenso Co., Ltd. Mobile navigator
US4400727A (en) 1981-11-27 1983-08-23 The Bendix Corporation Moving map display
US4484192A (en) 1981-12-17 1984-11-20 The Bendix Corporation Moving map display
JPS59212707A (en) 1983-05-19 1984-12-01 Mitsubishi Electric Corp Display device of running information
US4703444A (en) 1983-08-01 1987-10-27 Spymark, Incorporated Systems for determining distances to and locations of features on a golf course
US4698781A (en) 1983-08-01 1987-10-06 Spymark, Incorporated Systems for determining distances to and locations of features on a golf course
JPS6167169A (en) 1984-09-11 1986-04-07 Omron Tateisi Electronics Co Guiding device for golf links
US4940236A (en) 1985-07-26 1990-07-10 Allen Dillis V Computer golf club
US4789160A (en) * 1985-12-04 1988-12-06 Dollar Jr William O Golf swing position indicator
WO1988000487A1 (en) 1986-07-11 1988-01-28 Transcontinental Cart, Inc. Golf cart computer
US5044634A (en) 1988-03-21 1991-09-03 Yardmark, Inc. Golf information system
US5326095A (en) 1988-03-21 1994-07-05 Yardmark, Inc. Golf information system
US4864592A (en) * 1988-04-04 1989-09-05 Lee Yong K Golf score counter
US4910677A (en) * 1988-05-18 1990-03-20 Joseph W. Remedio Golf score recording system and network
FR2636134B1 (en) 1988-09-02 1995-03-10 Thomson Csf LAND NAVIGATION SYSTEM REAL-TIME VIEWING THE POSITION OF A VEHICLE
US4963314A (en) * 1989-01-17 1990-10-16 George Gering Golf swing instructional device
US5095430A (en) * 1989-01-23 1992-03-10 Joseph W. Remedio Golf cart computer with cartridge storage
JPH02209173A (en) 1989-02-09 1990-08-20 Meitec Corp Multi-function electronic golf scorer
GB8912491D0 (en) 1989-05-31 1989-07-19 Wells Charles D Vdu display apparatus
JPH0330787A (en) 1989-06-28 1991-02-08 Hamada Insatsuki Seizosho:Kk Golf score card
JPH0392022A (en) 1989-09-05 1991-04-17 Seiko Instr Inc Radio golf score system
JPH03126477A (en) * 1989-10-11 1991-05-29 Maruman Golf Corp Swing analyzing device
JP2792149B2 (en) 1989-10-19 1998-08-27 日立電線株式会社 Golf cart operation management method and management system therefor
US5053768A (en) 1989-12-21 1991-10-01 Invisible Fence Company, Inc. Golf cart control system
US5127044A (en) * 1990-02-20 1992-06-30 Golf Scoring Systems Unlimited, Inc. Automatic golf scoring and scheduling system
JPH045976A (en) 1990-04-23 1992-01-09 Entech Internatl Co Ltd Golf score recorder and method for linking said recorder with host computor
GB2243302A (en) 1990-04-24 1991-10-30 Entech International Co Ltd Golf scoring device
US5031909A (en) * 1990-05-07 1991-07-16 Pecker Edwin A Electronic athletic equipment
JPH0420360A (en) 1990-05-14 1992-01-23 Osamu Fukuya Method for recording score of golf
JP2966057B2 (en) 1990-07-19 1999-10-25 株式会社千代田製作所 Automatic cell processing device
US5146557A (en) * 1990-07-27 1992-09-08 General Electric Company User interface for a golf green and a golf putt modelling system
JPH0615022A (en) 1990-09-25 1994-01-25 Osamu Fukuya Golf score recorder and score display method using the same
US5089808A (en) * 1990-10-26 1992-02-18 Amsau Company, Inc. Device giving warning when undesired lifting position is assumed
GB2251489A (en) 1990-11-13 1992-07-08 Ian Burton A golf aid
JPH04335178A (en) 1991-05-10 1992-11-24 Pioneer Electron Corp Golf field guiding system
US6089459A (en) * 1992-06-16 2000-07-18 Smartdiskette Gmbh Smart diskette device adaptable to receive electronic medium
JPH0519035A (en) 1991-07-10 1993-01-26 Mitsuyoshi Sugimoto Method for measuring golf distance utilizing satellite
JPH0526680A (en) 1991-07-23 1993-02-02 Pioneer Electron Corp Gps navigation device
JPH0546079A (en) 1991-08-12 1993-02-26 Pioneer Electron Corp Golf cart position display system
JPH0549724A (en) 1991-08-22 1993-03-02 Osamu Fukuya Golf result recorder and result indicating method using the same
JP3092022B2 (en) 1991-09-05 2000-09-25 株式会社トーキン 2-axis acceleration sensor
US5245537A (en) * 1991-11-25 1993-09-14 Barber Andrew T Golf distance tracking, club selection, and player performance statistics apparatus and method
US5283733A (en) * 1992-03-24 1994-02-01 Colley Russell H Computer on-line golf scoring device
JPH0796044B2 (en) * 1992-04-22 1995-10-18 光雄 浦 Batting practice device
US5688183A (en) * 1992-05-22 1997-11-18 Sabatino; Joseph Velocity monitoring system for golf clubs
AU4401893A (en) 1992-06-05 1994-01-04 Brown, Russell C. Driving range with automated ball retrieval system
US5471191A (en) * 1992-11-16 1995-11-28 Narita; Fujiaki Golf score display device
US5469175A (en) 1993-03-29 1995-11-21 Golf Scoring Systems Unlimited, Inc. System and method for measuring distance between two objects on a golf course
US5513854A (en) * 1993-04-19 1996-05-07 Daver; Gil J. G. System used for real time acquistion of data pertaining to persons in motion
US5319548A (en) * 1993-04-27 1994-06-07 Germain Craig D Interactive golf game information system
US5779566A (en) * 1993-05-04 1998-07-14 Wilens; Peter S. Handheld golf reporting and statistical analysis apparatus and method
JP3661158B2 (en) 1993-09-03 2005-06-15 嘉文 宮本 Portable electronic golf score display device
US5434789A (en) * 1993-10-06 1995-07-18 Fraker; William F. GPS golf diagnostic system
US5558333A (en) * 1993-11-30 1996-09-24 Kelson; Steven M. Golf game data recorder, analyzer, and game improver using display simulations with plural resolutions
US5504312A (en) * 1993-12-07 1996-04-02 Sportsmedia Technology Corporation Scoring system
US5395116A (en) * 1994-01-10 1995-03-07 Blaakman; Frank L. Golf timer control
WO1995020168A1 (en) 1994-01-21 1995-07-27 Eagle-Tek Method and apparatus for determining location and indicating selected distances between points on a golf course
AU684492B2 (en) 1994-02-24 1997-12-18 Makoto Hyuga Method for guiding golf course, device therefor, and golf course managing system
US5699244A (en) 1994-03-07 1997-12-16 Monsanto Company Hand-held GUI PDA with GPS/DGPS receiver for collecting agronomic and GPS position data
JP2554312B2 (en) * 1994-06-10 1996-11-13 瑛 原 Golf club number confirmation device
US5664880A (en) * 1994-07-14 1997-09-09 Agtsports, Inc. Handheld golf course distance computer for automatically computing distances to sequentially selected points
JP3006904U (en) * 1994-07-19 1995-01-31 古野電気株式会社 Distance measuring device
AU3417295A (en) * 1994-09-02 1996-03-27 Victor Chartrand Multimedia golf handicap interactive touch-screen system with electronic card
US5536010A (en) 1994-09-22 1996-07-16 Lambourne; G. Thomas Electronic golf scorecard
DE4433750C1 (en) 1994-09-22 1995-12-14 Bail Guenther Control system for self-propelled vehicle e.g. golf-trolley
US5931888A (en) * 1994-09-22 1999-08-03 Aisin Aw Co., Ltd. Navigation system for vehicles with alternative route searching capabilities
US20040196181A1 (en) 1994-09-22 2004-10-07 Huston Charles D. Method and apparatus for message display on a golf course
US5707298A (en) * 1994-11-18 1998-01-13 Chovanes; Joseph E. Implement swing training device
US5689269A (en) 1995-01-25 1997-11-18 American Technology Corporation GPS relative position detection system
US5781150A (en) 1995-01-25 1998-07-14 American Technology Corporation GPS relative position detection system
US5952959A (en) 1995-01-25 1999-09-14 American Technology Corporation GPS relative position detection system
AU6166696A (en) 1995-06-07 1996-12-30 Crawford Allen Irvine Golf computer device and an associated method
JP3134715B2 (en) 1995-06-07 2001-02-13 花王株式会社 Liquid metering filling method
US5681108A (en) * 1995-06-28 1997-10-28 Miller; Alan Golf scorekeeping system
US5779549A (en) * 1996-04-22 1998-07-14 Walker Assest Management Limited Parnership Database driven online distributed tournament system
US5944132A (en) 1995-07-20 1999-08-31 Golfpro International, Inc. Method and apparatus for controlling robotic golf caddy apparatus
US5616832A (en) * 1995-08-14 1997-04-01 Nauck; George S. System and method for evaluation of dynamics of golf clubs
US6282362B1 (en) * 1995-11-07 2001-08-28 Trimble Navigation Limited Geographical position/image digital recording and display system
US5691922A (en) * 1995-11-14 1997-11-25 Airwave Technology, Inc. Golf autoranging system
US5658210A (en) * 1996-02-05 1997-08-19 Cornell; Douglas W. Method and apparatus for ranking golf drives
JP3030787B2 (en) 1996-02-16 2000-04-10 富士通株式会社 Optical switch and inkjet printer
US6062991A (en) * 1996-04-05 2000-05-16 Moriarty; Stephen A. Communication, calculation, and record keeping method and apparatus for golf course
US6227973B1 (en) * 1996-05-10 2001-05-08 Konami Co., Ltd. Video game system using terrain profile information
US6018699A (en) * 1996-06-04 2000-01-25 Baron Services, Inc. Systems and methods for distributing real-time site specific weather information
US5949679A (en) * 1996-07-03 1999-09-07 Tournament Tracker, Inc. Golf scoring computer system
US5792001A (en) * 1996-07-16 1998-08-11 Henwood; Richard Putting stroke training device
US5810680A (en) 1996-07-17 1998-09-22 Lawrence P. Lobb Computer aided game apparatus
US5792000A (en) * 1996-07-25 1998-08-11 Sci Golf Inc. Golf swing analysis method and apparatus
JPH10113415A (en) 1996-10-11 1998-05-06 Kokusai Electric Co Ltd Golfer support system
US6002982A (en) 1996-11-01 1999-12-14 Fry; William R. Sports computer with GPS receiver and performance tracking capabilities
JPH10137383A (en) 1996-11-06 1998-05-26 Kojiro Okawa Distance measuring device for golf competition
US6246917B1 (en) * 1996-11-18 2001-06-12 Kenneth D. Smith Electronic scoring process
US5721532A (en) * 1996-12-12 1998-02-24 Lehmann; Roger W. Motion sensitive reminder
US6422951B1 (en) * 1997-01-07 2002-07-23 Bruce D. Burrows Metal wood type golf club head
US6111541A (en) * 1997-05-09 2000-08-29 Sony Corporation Positioning system using packet radio to provide differential global positioning satellite corrections and information relative to a position
US5911635A (en) * 1997-05-20 1999-06-15 Ogden; Everett L. Golf swing training device
US6074312A (en) * 1997-07-28 2000-06-13 Dynamic Solutions International Golf handicap system and methods
US5976038A (en) 1997-12-10 1999-11-02 Toy Builders Apparatus for detecting moving ball
DE19804709A1 (en) 1998-02-06 1999-08-12 Bayer Ag Process for the direct catalytic oxidation of unsaturated hydrocarbons in the gas phase
US5944614A (en) * 1998-05-20 1999-08-31 Yoon; Jong M. Golf club head
US5952921A (en) 1998-06-22 1999-09-14 Donnelly; Mark Lewis Misplaced golf club reminder
US6113504A (en) 1998-07-10 2000-09-05 Oblon, Spivak, Mcclelland, Maier & Neustadt, P.C. Golf ball locator
US6278402B1 (en) 1998-09-28 2001-08-21 Vxt, L.L.C. Hybrid system and method for golf course distance determination using GPS navigation signals
JP2000102635A (en) 1998-09-28 2000-04-11 A Tec Kk Add up and preservation of golf score intensively by using gps
US6104337A (en) 1998-11-20 2000-08-15 Coutts; Gordon Distance indicator system for golf
US20010045904A1 (en) 1999-01-29 2001-11-29 Robert Curtis Silzer Jr. Recreational facility management system
US6118376A (en) * 1999-02-01 2000-09-12 Regester; Mark Christian Golf club tracking device and method
US6162129A (en) 1999-02-25 2000-12-19 Nielsen; Frank M. Golf handicap calculator
US6165083A (en) 1999-03-22 2000-12-26 Sydney L. Stenger Golf putting aid
US6277029B1 (en) * 1999-04-08 2001-08-21 Stat Tracker Ii, L.L.C. Golf electronic scoring device
WO2000066975A1 (en) * 1999-04-28 2000-11-09 Equos Research Co., Ltd. Route guide system
JP3098744B1 (en) 1999-05-12 2000-10-16 株式会社橘高工学研究所 Measurement display device for golf course
JP3098743B1 (en) 1999-05-12 2000-10-16 株式会社橘高工学研究所 Measurement display device in golf course
US7004848B2 (en) 1999-06-14 2006-02-28 Konow Blaine L Electronically traceable golf club incorporating a programmable transponder
GB9915331D0 (en) 1999-06-30 1999-09-01 World Golf Systems Limited Golf balls
US6267687B1 (en) 1999-07-19 2001-07-31 Emil Alex Golf calculator
US6296579B1 (en) * 1999-08-26 2001-10-02 Lee D. Robinson Putting improvement device and method
WO2001014021A1 (en) 1999-08-26 2001-03-01 Robinson Lee D Putting improvement devices and methods
JP2001228231A (en) 2000-02-15 2001-08-24 Hitachi Eng Co Ltd Golf course service system
US6304211B1 (en) 2000-02-16 2001-10-16 Bertho Boman System and method for measuring distance between two objects using received satellite transmitted data
US6466162B2 (en) 2000-02-16 2002-10-15 Bertho Boman System and method for measuring distance between two objects
US20010035880A1 (en) 2000-03-06 2001-11-01 Igor Musatov Interactive touch screen map device
US20020151994A1 (en) 2000-06-16 2002-10-17 Kent Sisco Methods and apparatus for providing information on the game of golf
US7121962B2 (en) 2000-12-19 2006-10-17 Reeves G George Golf round data system with cellular telephone and player help features
CA2330060A1 (en) 2001-01-03 2002-07-03 Devin Lawrence Moffatt Computerized golf scoring and communication system
US6585609B2 (en) 2001-01-05 2003-07-01 John Bays Golf shot mapping and analysis system
US20020143729A1 (en) 2001-03-29 2002-10-03 Gideon Fostick Portable assistant
US6585605B2 (en) * 2001-04-04 2003-07-01 Callaway Golf Company Measurement of the coefficient of restitution of a golf club
US6640146B2 (en) 2001-04-09 2003-10-28 Daniel Burbidge Golf handicapping and scoring system
US20020161461A1 (en) 2001-04-25 2002-10-31 Lobb Lawrence Patrick Computer aided game apparatus
US20020177490A1 (en) 2001-05-24 2002-11-28 Yook-Kong Yong Radio frequency identification system for identifying and locating golf balls in driving ranges and golf courses
US6753778B2 (en) * 2001-06-06 2004-06-22 Douglas Brown Kruger Orientation/time sensing alarm device for golf club
US20030191547A1 (en) 2001-06-12 2003-10-09 Morse Kevin C. Golf game management system
US20020188359A1 (en) 2001-06-12 2002-12-12 Morse Kevin C. Golf game management system
JP2004520924A (en) 2001-06-29 2004-07-15 クリフォード エル. アインスワース Apparatus and method for newly identifying a golf ball in a target
JP2003039929A (en) 2001-07-27 2003-02-13 Mitsubishi Heavy Ind Ltd Air conditioner
US20040204257A1 (en) 2001-08-01 2004-10-14 Bogie Boscha System for and a method of manufacturing personal golf putters
JP4020360B2 (en) 2001-12-04 2007-12-12 本田技研工業株式会社 Plate mounting structure for crankshaft rotation angle detection
JP2003180902A (en) 2001-12-20 2003-07-02 Raito:Kk Supporting system for golfer or golf course
US20030149496A1 (en) 2002-01-17 2003-08-07 Johnson William L. Portable electronic information collection and presentation device
US20030163210A1 (en) 2002-02-25 2003-08-28 Adams Edwin H. System for providing golfers with golf related information via a global network
JP2003256038A (en) 2002-02-27 2003-09-10 Sanyo Electric Co Ltd Self-propelled vehicle
US20030236601A1 (en) 2002-03-18 2003-12-25 Club Car, Inc. Control and diagnostic system for vehicles
US7099775B1 (en) 2002-04-02 2006-08-29 Garmin Ltd. Portable navigation device with instant on configuration on navigational display
US6795770B1 (en) 2002-04-02 2004-09-21 Garmin Ltd. Portable navigation device with instant on configuration on navigational display
JP2004054469A (en) 2002-07-18 2004-02-19 Apas:Kk Golf play information providing method and golf play information providing system
US6975229B2 (en) 2002-08-09 2005-12-13 Battelle Memorial Institute K1-53 System and method for acquisition management of subject position information
JP2004113535A (en) 2002-09-27 2004-04-15 Mamiya Op Co Ltd Golf course control system
JP2004120454A (en) 2002-09-27 2004-04-15 Mamiya Op Co Ltd Golf course data providing system using mobile terminal
GB2394376A (en) 2002-10-14 2004-04-21 Bertho Boman Measuring distance between two objects
JP2004159876A (en) 2002-11-13 2004-06-10 Nec Fielding Ltd Golf guidance system
US20040146185A1 (en) 2002-11-14 2004-07-29 Blair Forrest K. Apparatus, system, and method for creating an electronic description of a geographic site
KR100466368B1 (en) 2003-01-10 2005-01-13 김영순 Analyzing apparatus of Golf player's playing information and Method using thereof
US20040142766A1 (en) 2003-01-17 2004-07-22 Chris Savarese Apparatuses, methods and systems relating to findable golf balls
US7239965B2 (en) 2003-01-17 2007-07-03 Uplink Corporation Method and system for golf cart control
GB2391412A (en) 2003-05-02 2004-02-04 Terry Pugh Golfing satellite navigation device
GB2401501A (en) 2003-07-02 2004-11-10 Terence Charles Pugh Golfing satellite navigation device
JP2005034529A (en) 2003-07-18 2005-02-10 Nec Corp Method and system for assisting golf player in play
JP2005052501A (en) 2003-08-06 2005-03-03 Nec Corp Golf play information provision system and golf play information provision method
JP2005058728A (en) 2003-08-08 2005-03-10 Yasuki Aoki Data golf world
KR20040010420A (en) 2003-10-17 2004-01-31 주식회사 이지싱크 handheld terminals, system and method for managing golf score
US6908404B1 (en) 2003-12-22 2005-06-21 Adam Gard Caddy
JP2005205091A (en) 2004-01-26 2005-08-04 Bridgestone Sports Co Ltd Golf ball
US20070167247A1 (en) 2004-02-18 2007-07-19 Lindsay Norman M Method and systems using prediction of outcome for launched objects
JP4005976B2 (en) 2004-03-03 2007-11-14 Tdk株式会社 Magnetic recording medium
US20050227791A1 (en) 2004-03-18 2005-10-13 Hbl Ltd. Virtual caddy system and method
GB2412878A (en) 2004-03-29 2005-10-12 Sports Analysis Ltd Golf hole map
US20050228547A1 (en) 2004-04-12 2005-10-13 Golf Cart Media, Inc. Interactive media system and method for use with golf carts
US20050240294A1 (en) 2004-04-27 2005-10-27 Jones George P Golf shot recording system
US7095312B2 (en) 2004-05-19 2006-08-22 Accurate Technologies, Inc. System and method for tracking identity movement and location of sports objects
US20050266935A1 (en) 2004-06-01 2005-12-01 Frank Mabry Game system and method
WO2005120927A2 (en) 2004-06-04 2005-12-22 Murphy Howard L Sports bag with integral transportation system
JP2006058290A (en) 2004-07-23 2006-03-02 Kel System:Kk Measuring/display apparatus of distance and direction in golf course
JP2006084438A (en) 2004-09-17 2006-03-30 Birukon Kk Navigation portable terminal for golf
JP2006162852A (en) 2004-12-06 2006-06-22 Birukon Kk Application system of golf navigation portable terminal
US20060183566A1 (en) 2005-02-11 2006-08-17 Clip-On Pro, Llc System and method for providing golf instruction
WO2006104593A2 (en) 2005-02-18 2006-10-05 Blue Marlin Llc Method and system for locating a lost golf ball
TW200633746A (en) 2005-03-16 2006-10-01 Chun-Sam Liu Golf aiding device with function of displaying and setting specific-points
US20060220809A1 (en) 2005-03-21 2006-10-05 Rf Monolithics, Inc. System and method for monitoring use of vehicles such as golf carts
US20060270450A1 (en) 2005-05-10 2006-11-30 Garratt Reginald G Voice activated distance measuring device
US20060255918A1 (en) 2005-05-11 2006-11-16 Jonathan Bernstein Method and system for detecting when a golf club is a pre-determined distance from an area
JP4335178B2 (en) 2005-06-20 2009-09-30 Tdk株式会社 Multilayer electronic components and multilayer ceramic capacitors
JP2007014487A (en) 2005-07-06 2007-01-25 Anchor Entertainment Inc Golf course data providing system
EP1928563A2 (en) 2005-09-28 2008-06-11 Richard Willett Illuminated golf flagpole
US20070129179A1 (en) 2005-12-05 2007-06-07 Louis Soto Handheld electronic caddy scorekeeping device for a golfer
US20070197314A1 (en) 2006-02-09 2007-08-23 York Andrew W Rangefinding devices and methods for golfing
US20070191126A1 (en) 2006-02-14 2007-08-16 Nick Mandracken Golf Aid
JP5046079B2 (en) 2006-05-22 2012-10-10 名古屋市 Flame retardant polylactic acid resin composition
JP5019035B2 (en) 2007-03-22 2012-09-05 株式会社エクォス・リサーチ Portable information terminal equipment
JP5049724B2 (en) 2007-10-03 2012-10-17 株式会社ファルテック Sunroof decorative material

Patent Citations (99)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3868692A (en) * 1973-09-13 1975-02-25 Roland L Woodard Golf yardage finder
US3945646A (en) * 1974-12-23 1976-03-23 Athletic Swing Measurement, Inc. Athletic swing measurement system and method
US4142236A (en) * 1977-04-14 1979-02-27 Martz Kenneth L Electronic scorecard for golf
US4367526A (en) * 1980-09-08 1983-01-04 Mcgeary Thomas C Golf calculator
US4723218A (en) * 1981-05-15 1988-02-02 Nippondenso Co., Ltd. Navigator for automotive vehicles
US4428057A (en) * 1981-06-09 1984-01-24 Texas Instruments Incorporated Electronic chart system
US4675676A (en) * 1983-03-09 1987-06-23 Nippondenso Co. Ltd. Map display system
US4571684A (en) * 1983-03-25 1986-02-18 Nippondenso Co., Ltd. Map display system for vehicles
US4737916A (en) * 1985-04-30 1988-04-12 Nippondenso Co., Ltd. Electronic map display system
US4744033A (en) * 1985-04-30 1988-05-10 Nippondenso Co., Ltd. Electronic display system
US4656476A (en) * 1985-08-26 1987-04-07 Richard Tavtigian Warning device for golf carts
US4815020A (en) * 1987-03-09 1989-03-21 Cormier Wayne L Method and apparatus for computing golf game parameters
US4825381A (en) * 1987-03-31 1989-04-25 Rockwell International Corporation Moving map display
US5084822A (en) * 1987-12-15 1992-01-28 Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha Navigation apparatus for moving object
US5119301A (en) * 1989-04-17 1992-06-02 Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. Vehicle location detecting system
US5089826A (en) * 1989-10-24 1992-02-18 Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha Navigation system for movable body
US5189430A (en) * 1989-10-24 1993-02-23 Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha Navigation system for movable body
US5086390A (en) * 1990-01-16 1992-02-04 Matthews Gordon H System for monitoring play of a golfer
US5097416A (en) * 1990-01-16 1992-03-17 Matthews Gordon H System for monitoring play of a golfer
US5305201A (en) * 1990-01-16 1994-04-19 Gordon Matthews Improved system for monitoring play of a golfer
US5423549A (en) * 1990-03-09 1995-06-13 Ipu Int. Patents Utilization Ltd. Apparatus with a signal receiving unit for locating golf balls
US5214679A (en) * 1991-06-13 1993-05-25 Robert G. Metcalf Score keeper and distance indicator for use with a golf cart
US20030103001A1 (en) * 1991-12-10 2003-06-05 Huston Charles D. Golf distance measuring system and method
US5751244A (en) * 1991-12-10 1998-05-12 Huston; Charles D. Method and apparatus for calibration of a GPS receiver
US5772534A (en) * 1992-09-09 1998-06-30 Dudley; Douglas P. Satellite enhanced golf information system
US5324028A (en) * 1992-10-23 1994-06-28 Luna Luis A Intelligent golf parties guidance system
US5294110A (en) * 1992-10-27 1994-03-15 Jenkins James J Portable golf shot analyzer and club selector
US5904726A (en) * 1994-01-19 1999-05-18 Golf Age Technologies Partnership Accelerometer-based golf distancing apparatus
US5507485A (en) * 1994-04-28 1996-04-16 Roblor Marketing Group, Inc. Golf computer and golf replay device
US5528248A (en) * 1994-08-19 1996-06-18 Trimble Navigation, Ltd. Personal digital location assistant including a memory cartridge, a GPS smart antenna and a personal computing device
US20020016210A1 (en) * 1995-01-20 2002-02-07 Helber Robert A. Method and apparatus for displaying golf ball location
US5740077A (en) * 1995-02-03 1998-04-14 Reeves; G. George Golf round data system
US5487542A (en) * 1995-03-21 1996-01-30 Foley; Thomas P. Automatically-scoring golf game
US5878369A (en) * 1995-04-18 1999-03-02 Leading Edge Technologies, Inc. Golf course yardage and information system
US5904727A (en) * 1995-05-17 1999-05-18 Mobile Information Systems, Inc. Graphical fleet management methods
US5711388A (en) * 1995-07-20 1998-01-27 Golfpro International, Inc. Robotic golf caddy apparatus and method
US5591088A (en) * 1995-08-29 1997-01-07 Bianco; John L. Electronic golfing aid
US6525690B2 (en) * 1995-09-08 2003-02-25 Prolink, Inc. Golf course yardage and information system with zone detection
US5889493A (en) * 1995-11-21 1999-03-30 Harada Industry Co., Ltd. Portable GPS position measuring/displaying apparatus
US5626531A (en) * 1996-02-02 1997-05-06 Tee To Green Inc. Golf ball with tag, and detecting system
US5743815A (en) * 1996-07-18 1998-04-28 Helderman; Michael D. Golf ball and indentification system
US6024655A (en) * 1997-03-31 2000-02-15 Leading Edge Technologies, Inc. Map-matching golf navigation system
US5873797A (en) * 1997-04-03 1999-02-23 Leading Edge Technologies, Inc. Remote golf ball locator
US6030109A (en) * 1997-05-05 2000-02-29 Lobsenz; Charles B. Golf scoring system
US6353743B1 (en) * 1997-05-09 2002-03-05 Sony Corporation Positioning system using packet radio to determine position and to obtain information relative to a position
US6411211B1 (en) * 1997-07-17 2002-06-25 Jeffrey V. Boley Golf equipment inventory device
US6023225A (en) * 1997-07-17 2000-02-08 Jeffrey V. Boley Golf equipment inventory device
US6029121A (en) * 1997-08-22 2000-02-22 Stashko; Stephen O. Golf pin distance measuring system
US6186908B1 (en) * 1998-06-24 2001-02-13 Futaba Denshi Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Retrieval apparatus for operation-management system of golf links and retrieval method therefor
US6032108A (en) * 1998-07-08 2000-02-29 Seiple; Ronald Sports performance computer system and method
US6171199B1 (en) * 1998-08-20 2001-01-09 Callahan & Associates, Inc. Method and system of providing information on golf courses for players and for course design and modification
US6067039A (en) * 1998-11-30 2000-05-23 Pacific Design Engineering (1996 ( Ltd. Systems and methods for determining the distance between two locations
US6222482B1 (en) * 1999-01-29 2001-04-24 International Business Machines Corporation Hand-held device providing a closest feature location in a three-dimensional geometry database
US20020038178A1 (en) * 1999-03-05 2002-03-28 Andrea Talkenberg Golf navigation appliance
US20040058749A1 (en) * 1999-04-15 2004-03-25 Pirritano Anthony J. RF detectable golf ball
US6520864B1 (en) * 1999-07-07 2003-02-18 Peter J. Wilk Method for tracking golf ball
US6580999B2 (en) * 1999-07-12 2003-06-17 Hitachi, Ltd. Portable terminal with the function of walking navigation
US6748317B2 (en) * 1999-07-12 2004-06-08 Hitachi, Ltd. Portable terminal with the function of walking navigation
US6900759B1 (en) * 1999-07-27 2005-05-31 Muneomi Katayama Terminal equipment of golf play information and analyzing system thereof
US6694254B2 (en) * 1999-08-04 2004-02-17 Sony Corporation Map display
US6862525B1 (en) * 1999-11-01 2005-03-01 Garmin Corporation GPS device with compass and altimeter and method for displaying navigation information
US6582328B2 (en) * 1999-11-10 2003-06-24 Golflogix Inc. System and method for collecting and managing data
US7010550B2 (en) * 2000-01-14 2006-03-07 Tarlie Martin B System for and method of golf performance recordation and analysis
US20020072815A1 (en) * 2000-01-21 2002-06-13 Mcdonough William A. Portable information system and method for golf play enhancement, analysis, and scorekeeping
US20020052750A1 (en) * 2000-05-09 2002-05-02 Masaharu Hirooka Method of business in which GPS golf-course map data is collected and distributed
US20070087866A1 (en) * 2000-06-16 2007-04-19 Meadows James W Personal golfing assistant and method and system for graphically displaying golf related information and for collection, processing and distribution of golf related data
US7175177B2 (en) * 2000-07-05 2007-02-13 Fujitsu Limited Golf data management system, data center, and method of managing golf data
US6579175B2 (en) * 2000-07-11 2003-06-17 Jatco Transtechnology Ltd. Game system for occupying a team position in a game area disposed between a plurality of teams
US6520853B2 (en) * 2000-07-11 2003-02-18 Jatco Transtechnology Ltd. Game system
US20070016438A1 (en) * 2000-07-27 2007-01-18 Pro Link Solutions, Llc Method and system for allocating revenue derived from use of GPS-equipped golf carts
US20020019677A1 (en) * 2000-08-09 2002-02-14 Lee Jae Woo Method for providing personal golf record information using the internet
US6366205B1 (en) * 2000-08-25 2002-04-02 Club Keeper International, Inc. System for detecting missing golf clubs
US20020060642A1 (en) * 2000-11-17 2002-05-23 Masanari Togasaka Apparatus for providing position information
US6366856B1 (en) * 2000-11-21 2002-04-02 Qualcomm Incorporated Method and apparatus for orienting a map display in a mobile or portable device
US20040014536A1 (en) * 2001-01-05 2004-01-22 Oblon, Spivak, Mcclelland, Maier & Neustadt, P.C. Golf ball including an electromagnetic transmitter
US20050037872A1 (en) * 2001-01-25 2005-02-17 Fredlund John R. System and method for representing an activity involving a route along a plurality of locations
US6524199B2 (en) * 2001-01-25 2003-02-25 Cheryl Goldman System for locating a golf ball
US6998965B1 (en) * 2001-01-26 2006-02-14 Edge Technology Enhanced golf range play using RFID and GPS
US6401254B1 (en) * 2001-09-28 2002-06-11 David W. Boller Device for wearing on a hand and counting and displaying golf strokes taken per hole per game
US6898520B2 (en) * 2001-12-20 2005-05-24 Garmin Ltd. Systems and methods for a navigational device with forced layer switching based on memory constraints
US7180451B2 (en) * 2002-01-22 2007-02-20 Gps Industries, Inc. Endurable sports PDA with communications capabilities and accessories therefor
US6751552B1 (en) * 2002-06-28 2004-06-15 Garmin Ltd. Rugged, waterproof, navigation device with touch panel
US6691032B1 (en) * 2002-09-09 2004-02-10 Groundspeak, Inc. System and method for executing user-definable events triggered through geolocational data describing zones of influence
US20050032582A1 (en) * 2002-12-19 2005-02-10 Satayan Mahajan Method and apparatus for determining orientation and position of a moveable object
US20050037747A1 (en) * 2003-06-26 2005-02-17 Geary John N. System and method for dissemination of information in a limited-access environment
US20050026709A1 (en) * 2003-07-28 2005-02-03 Palmer Peter J. Golf scorekeeping and analysis system
US20050085316A1 (en) * 2003-10-20 2005-04-21 Exelys Llc Golf ball location system
US20050096761A1 (en) * 2003-11-03 2005-05-05 Hanover Michael D.Jr. Golf score and information device and system
US20050101411A1 (en) * 2003-11-10 2005-05-12 Sharon Stiller Golf ball locator
US20050101415A1 (en) * 2003-11-12 2005-05-12 Mark Sweeney Topography linked golf aid
US7030736B2 (en) * 2004-06-03 2006-04-18 Brunswick Bowling & Billiards Corporation Radio frequency identification (RFID) pin detection system
US20060030433A1 (en) * 2004-08-04 2006-02-09 Jeff Horsley Golf course location and distance measuring system
US20060105857A1 (en) * 2004-11-17 2006-05-18 Stark David A Athletic ball telemetry apparatus and method of use thereof
US7207902B1 (en) * 2004-12-06 2007-04-24 Thomas B Hamlin Method and apparatus for locating and recording the position of a golf ball during a golf game
US20070072692A1 (en) * 2005-05-12 2007-03-29 Oakley William J Golf Course Du Jour
US20070021226A1 (en) * 2005-07-19 2007-01-25 Dan Tyroler Method and apparatus for tracking objects in flight such as golf balls and the like
US20070060408A1 (en) * 2005-08-31 2007-03-15 Motorola, Inc. Method and system for location based game services for wireless devices
US20070078018A1 (en) * 2005-09-30 2007-04-05 Norman Kellogg Golf range with automated ranging system
US20070099715A1 (en) * 2005-11-02 2007-05-03 Jones Richard V Location-based golf information systems and methods

Cited By (147)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8172702B2 (en) 2000-06-16 2012-05-08 Skyhawke Technologies, Llc. Personal golfing assistant and method and system for graphically displaying golf related information and for collection, processing and distribution of golf related data
US8523711B2 (en) 2000-06-16 2013-09-03 Skyhawke Technologies, Llc. Personal golfing assistant and method and system for graphically displaying golf related information and for collection, processing and distribution of golf related data
US8556752B2 (en) 2000-06-16 2013-10-15 Skyhawke Technologies, Llc. Personal golfing assistant and method and system for graphically displaying golf related information and for collection, processing and distribution of golf related data
US8221269B2 (en) 2000-06-16 2012-07-17 Skyhawke Technologies, Llc Personal golfing assistant and method and system for graphically displaying golf related information and for collection, processing and distribution of golf related data
US9656134B2 (en) 2000-06-16 2017-05-23 Skyhawke Technologies, Llc. Personal golfing assistant and method and system for graphically displaying golf related information and for collection, processing and distribution of golf related data
US8535170B2 (en) 2000-12-19 2013-09-17 Appalachian Technology, Llc Device and method for displaying golf shot data
US8142304B2 (en) 2000-12-19 2012-03-27 Appalachian Technology, Llc Golf round data system golf club telemetry
US9656147B2 (en) 2000-12-19 2017-05-23 Appalachian Technology, Llc Golf player aid with stroke result forecasting
US8758170B2 (en) 2000-12-19 2014-06-24 Appalachian Technology, Llc Device and method for displaying golf shot data
US20080207357A1 (en) * 2007-02-09 2008-08-28 Chris Savarese Combined range and tag finder
US20080254916A1 (en) * 2007-04-11 2008-10-16 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Method of providing golf contents in mobile terminal
US8147335B2 (en) * 2007-04-11 2012-04-03 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Method of providing golf contents in mobile terminal
US9283464B2 (en) * 2007-08-03 2016-03-15 Lynqs, Inc. Golf gaming systems and methods
US20090036237A1 (en) * 2007-08-03 2009-02-05 Pro Tee Systems, Inc. Golf gaming systems and methods
US9005047B2 (en) 2007-10-25 2015-04-14 Tag Golf, Llc Apparatuses, methods and systems relating to semi-automatic golf data collecting and recording
US20090227397A1 (en) * 2007-11-05 2009-09-10 Britton Ryan M Golf assistance device and method thereof
US20090124433A1 (en) * 2007-11-05 2009-05-14 Britton Ryan M Golf assistance device and method thereof
US7953617B2 (en) 2008-02-19 2011-05-31 Visual Golf Solutions, Llc Golf course time management system
US20090210263A1 (en) * 2008-02-19 2009-08-20 Visual Golf Solutions, Llc Golf course time management system
US20110230986A1 (en) * 2008-02-20 2011-09-22 Nike, Inc. Systems and Methods for Storing and Analyzing Golf Data, Including Community and Individual Golf Data Collection and Storage at a Central Hub
US20110230273A1 (en) * 2008-02-20 2011-09-22 Nike, Inc. Systems and Methods for Storing and Analyzing Golf Data, Including Community and Individual Golf Data Collection and Storage at a Central Hub
US9486669B2 (en) 2008-02-20 2016-11-08 Nike, Inc. Systems and methods for storing and analyzing golf data, including community and individual golf data collection and storage at a central hub
US9661894B2 (en) 2008-02-20 2017-05-30 Nike, Inc. Systems and methods for storing and analyzing golf data, including community and individual golf data collection and storage at a central hub
US9393478B2 (en) 2008-02-20 2016-07-19 Nike, Inc. System and method for tracking one or more rounds of golf
US9623284B2 (en) 2008-02-20 2017-04-18 Karsten Manufacturing Corporation Systems and methods for storing and analyzing golf data, including community and individual golf data collection and storage at a central hub
US20090209358A1 (en) * 2008-02-20 2009-08-20 Niegowski James A System and method for tracking one or more rounds of golf
US8226495B2 (en) 2008-03-17 2012-07-24 Radar Corporation Golf data recorder with integrated missing club reminder and theft prevention system
US8624738B2 (en) 2008-03-17 2014-01-07 Radar Corporation Golf club apparatuses and methods
US20100308105A1 (en) * 2008-03-17 2010-12-09 Chris Savarese Golf club apparatuses and methods
US20090233735A1 (en) * 2008-03-17 2009-09-17 Chris Savarese Golf data recorder with integrated missing club reminder and theft prevention system
US20120071277A1 (en) * 2008-06-04 2012-03-22 Callaway Golf Company Golf gps
US9597576B2 (en) 2008-09-29 2017-03-21 Jack W. Peterson Method and device for improving putting
US8517854B2 (en) * 2008-11-05 2013-08-27 Egtron, Co., Ltd. Automatic golf scoring system that detects shot based upon motion of golfer and caddy
US20110213474A1 (en) * 2008-11-05 2011-09-01 Egtron Co., Ltd Intelligent, real-time golf tournament management system and terminal for use therewith
US9446294B2 (en) 2009-01-20 2016-09-20 Nike, Inc. Golf club and golf club head structures
US8655462B2 (en) * 2009-03-05 2014-02-18 Peter Sanders System and method for analyzing golfer driving accuracy
US20100228366A1 (en) * 2009-03-05 2010-09-09 Peter Sanders System And Method For Analyzing Golfer Driving Accuracy
US20120115650A1 (en) * 2009-06-05 2012-05-10 Callaway Golf Company Gps device
WO2010144863A2 (en) 2009-06-12 2010-12-16 Radar Corporation Golf club apparatuses and methods
US20110028230A1 (en) * 2009-07-31 2011-02-03 Callaway Golf Company Method and system for shot tracking
US20110098924A1 (en) * 2009-10-28 2011-04-28 Callaway Golf Company Method and device for determining a distance
US20110184538A1 (en) * 2010-01-28 2011-07-28 Epic Think Media, Llc Electronic Golf Assistant Utilizing Electronic Storing
US9028344B2 (en) * 2010-01-28 2015-05-12 Chsz, Llc Electronic golf assistant utilizing electronic storing
US9940508B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2018-04-10 Blast Motion Inc. Event detection, confirmation and publication system that integrates sensor data and social media
US9418705B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2016-08-16 Blast Motion Inc. Sensor and media event detection system
US8941723B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2015-01-27 Blast Motion Inc. Portable wireless mobile device motion capture and analysis system and method
US8944928B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2015-02-03 Blast Motion Inc. Virtual reality system for viewing current and previously stored or calculated motion data
US8994826B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2015-03-31 Blast Motion Inc. Portable wireless mobile device motion capture and analysis system and method
US8905855B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2014-12-09 Blast Motion Inc. System and method for utilizing motion capture data
US8903521B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2014-12-02 Blast Motion Inc. Motion capture element
US9028337B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2015-05-12 Blast Motion Inc. Motion capture element mount
US9033810B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2015-05-19 Blast Motion Inc. Motion capture element mount
US9039527B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2015-05-26 Blast Motion Inc. Broadcasting method for broadcasting images with augmented motion data
US9052201B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2015-06-09 Blast Motion Inc. Calibration system for simultaneous calibration of multiple motion capture elements
US9076041B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2015-07-07 Blast Motion Inc. Motion event recognition and video synchronization system and method
US9235765B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2016-01-12 Blast Motion Inc. Video and motion event integration system
US9247212B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2016-01-26 Blast Motion Inc. Intelligent motion capture element
US9261526B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2016-02-16 Blast Motion Inc. Fitting system for sporting equipment
US8827824B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2014-09-09 Blast Motion, Inc. Broadcasting system for broadcasting images with augmented motion data
US9320957B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2016-04-26 Blast Motion Inc. Wireless and visual hybrid motion capture system
US11355160B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2022-06-07 Blast Motion Inc. Multi-source event correlation system
US9349049B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2016-05-24 Blast Motion Inc. Motion capture and analysis system
US9361522B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2016-06-07 Blast Motion Inc. Motion event recognition and video synchronization system and method
US11311775B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2022-04-26 Blast Motion Inc. Motion capture data fitting system
US9396385B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2016-07-19 Blast Motion Inc. Integrated sensor and video motion analysis method
US8702516B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2014-04-22 Blast Motion Inc. Motion event recognition system and method
US9401178B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2016-07-26 Blast Motion Inc. Event analysis system
US9406336B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2016-08-02 Blast Motion Inc. Multi-sensor event detection system
US10881908B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2021-01-05 Blast Motion Inc. Motion capture data fitting system
US10748581B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2020-08-18 Blast Motion Inc. Multi-sensor event correlation system
US9746354B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2017-08-29 Blast Motion Inc. Elastomer encased motion sensor package
US9814935B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2017-11-14 Blast Motion Inc. Fitting system for sporting equipment
US10706273B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2020-07-07 Blast Motion Inc. Motion capture system that combines sensors with different measurement ranges
US10607349B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2020-03-31 Blast Motion Inc. Multi-sensor event system
US10406399B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2019-09-10 Blast Motion Inc. Portable wireless mobile device motion capture data mining system and method
US8613676B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2013-12-24 Blast Motion, Inc. Handle integrated motion capture element mount
US10350455B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2019-07-16 Blast Motion Inc. Motion capture data fitting system
US10339978B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2019-07-02 Blast Motion Inc. Multi-sensor event correlation system
US10254139B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2019-04-09 Blast Motion Inc. Method of coupling a motion sensor to a piece of equipment
US9607652B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2017-03-28 Blast Motion Inc. Multi-sensor event detection and tagging system
US9604142B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2017-03-28 Blast Motion Inc. Portable wireless mobile device motion capture data mining system and method
US10133919B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2018-11-20 Blast Motion Inc. Motion capture system that combines sensors with different measurement ranges
US9619891B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2017-04-11 Blast Motion Inc. Event analysis and tagging system
US10109061B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2018-10-23 Blast Motion Inc. Multi-sensor even analysis and tagging system
US9622361B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2017-04-11 Blast Motion Inc. Enclosure and mount for motion capture element
US9911045B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2018-03-06 Blast Motion Inc. Event analysis and tagging system
US9626554B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2017-04-18 Blast Motion Inc. Motion capture system that combines sensors with different measurement ranges
US9633254B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2017-04-25 Blast Motion Inc. Intelligent motion capture element
US9646199B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2017-05-09 Blast Motion Inc. Multi-sensor event analysis and tagging system
US9866827B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2018-01-09 Blast Motion Inc. Intelligent motion capture element
US9646209B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2017-05-09 Blast Motion Inc. Sensor and media event detection and tagging system
US9643049B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2017-05-09 Blast Motion Inc. Shatter proof enclosure and mount for a motion capture element
US9830951B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2017-11-28 Blast Motion Inc. Multi-sensor event detection and tagging system
US8465376B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2013-06-18 Blast Motion, Inc. Wireless golf club shot count system
US9824264B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2017-11-21 Blast Motion Inc. Motion capture system that combines sensors with different measurement ranges
US9662551B2 (en) 2010-11-30 2017-05-30 Nike, Inc. Golf club head or other ball striking device having impact-influencing body features
US9427639B2 (en) 2011-04-05 2016-08-30 Nike, Inc. Automatic club setting and ball flight optimization
US9409076B2 (en) 2011-04-28 2016-08-09 Nike, Inc. Golf clubs and golf club heads
US9925433B2 (en) 2011-04-28 2018-03-27 Nike, Inc. Golf clubs and golf club heads
US9375624B2 (en) 2011-04-28 2016-06-28 Nike, Inc. Golf clubs and golf club heads
US11077343B2 (en) 2011-04-28 2021-08-03 Nike, Inc. Monitoring device for a piece of sports equipment
US9409073B2 (en) 2011-04-28 2016-08-09 Nike, Inc. Golf clubs and golf club heads
US9433844B2 (en) 2011-04-28 2016-09-06 Nike, Inc. Golf clubs and golf club heads
US9433845B2 (en) 2011-04-28 2016-09-06 Nike, Inc. Golf clubs and golf club heads
US10500452B2 (en) 2011-04-28 2019-12-10 Nike, Inc. Golf clubs and golf club heads
WO2013081891A2 (en) 2011-11-28 2013-06-06 Radar Corporation Golf club apparatuses and methods
WO2013081890A2 (en) 2011-11-28 2013-06-06 Radar Corporation Golf club apparatuses and methods
US9526958B2 (en) 2012-01-10 2016-12-27 Jack W. Peterson Digital compass ball marker
WO2013106574A1 (en) * 2012-01-10 2013-07-18 Jack Peterson Digital compass ball marker
US8913134B2 (en) 2012-01-17 2014-12-16 Blast Motion Inc. Initializing an inertial sensor using soft constraints and penalty functions
US20130196792A1 (en) * 2012-01-30 2013-08-01 Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd System for providing information on playing golf
WO2013138381A2 (en) 2012-03-13 2013-09-19 Radar Corporation Golf club apparatuses and methods
US8700354B1 (en) 2013-06-10 2014-04-15 Blast Motion Inc. Wireless motion capture test head system
US10207170B2 (en) 2013-11-06 2019-02-19 Percentageplay Golf, Llc Combining statistically determined capabilities of a golfer with golf course data to aid shot selection
US9339714B2 (en) 2014-05-20 2016-05-17 Arccos Golf Llc System and method for monitoring performance characteristics associated with user activities involving swinging instruments
US10427017B2 (en) 2014-05-20 2019-10-01 Arccos Golf Llc System and method for monitoring performance characteristics associated with user activities involving swinging instruments
US9643064B2 (en) 2014-06-20 2017-05-09 Nike, Inc. Golf club head or other ball striking device having impact-influencing body features
US9610480B2 (en) 2014-06-20 2017-04-04 Nike, Inc. Golf club head or other ball striking device having impact-influencing body features
US9789371B2 (en) 2014-06-20 2017-10-17 Karsten Manufacturing Corporation Golf club head or other ball striking device having impact-influencing body features
US9776050B2 (en) 2014-06-20 2017-10-03 Karsten Manufacturing Corporation Golf club head or other ball striking device having impact-influencing body features
US9616299B2 (en) 2014-06-20 2017-04-11 Nike, Inc. Golf club head or other ball striking device having impact-influencing body features
US10071299B2 (en) 2014-06-20 2018-09-11 Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. Recommendation engine
US9744422B2 (en) 2014-06-20 2017-08-29 Dunlop Sports Co., Ltd. Recommendation engine
US9489494B2 (en) 2014-06-20 2016-11-08 Dunlop Sports Company Limited Recommendation engine
US9889346B2 (en) 2014-06-20 2018-02-13 Karsten Manufacturing Corporation Golf club head or other ball striking device having impact-influencing body features
US11577142B2 (en) 2015-07-16 2023-02-14 Blast Motion Inc. Swing analysis system that calculates a rotational profile
US11565163B2 (en) 2015-07-16 2023-01-31 Blast Motion Inc. Equipment fitting system that compares swing metrics
US11833406B2 (en) 2015-07-16 2023-12-05 Blast Motion Inc. Swing quality measurement system
US9770639B2 (en) 2015-07-21 2017-09-26 Arccos Golf, Llc System and method for monitoring performance characteristics associated with user activities involving swinging instruments
US10589161B2 (en) 2015-07-21 2020-03-17 Arccos Golf, Llc System and method for monitoring performance characteristics associated with user activities involving swinging instruments
US10463924B2 (en) 2016-02-11 2019-11-05 Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. Golf club head customization
US11524212B2 (en) 2016-02-11 2022-12-13 Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. Golf club head customization
US10022595B2 (en) 2016-02-11 2018-07-17 Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. Golf club head customization
US11020635B2 (en) 2016-02-11 2021-06-01 Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. Golf club head customization
US10265602B2 (en) 2016-03-03 2019-04-23 Blast Motion Inc. Aiming feedback system with inertial sensors
US10226681B2 (en) 2016-05-02 2019-03-12 Nike, Inc. Golf clubs and golf club heads having a plurality of sensors for detecting one or more swing parameters
US10220285B2 (en) 2016-05-02 2019-03-05 Nike, Inc. Golf clubs and golf club heads having a sensor
US10159885B2 (en) 2016-05-02 2018-12-25 Nike, Inc. Swing analysis system using angular rate and linear acceleration sensors
US10137347B2 (en) 2016-05-02 2018-11-27 Nike, Inc. Golf clubs and golf club heads having a sensor
US9694267B1 (en) 2016-07-19 2017-07-04 Blast Motion Inc. Swing analysis method using a swing plane reference frame
US10716989B2 (en) 2016-07-19 2020-07-21 Blast Motion Inc. Swing analysis method using a sweet spot trajectory
US10617926B2 (en) 2016-07-19 2020-04-14 Blast Motion Inc. Swing analysis method using a swing plane reference frame
US10124230B2 (en) 2016-07-19 2018-11-13 Blast Motion Inc. Swing analysis method using a sweet spot trajectory
US11219814B2 (en) 2017-01-17 2022-01-11 Arccos Golf Llc Autonomous personalized golf recommendation and analysis environment
US10682562B2 (en) 2017-01-17 2020-06-16 Arccos Golf Llc Autonomous personalized golf recommendation and analysis environment
US11400362B2 (en) 2017-05-23 2022-08-02 Blast Motion Inc. Motion mirroring system that incorporates virtual environment constraints
US10786728B2 (en) 2017-05-23 2020-09-29 Blast Motion Inc. Motion mirroring system that incorporates virtual environment constraints

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US20040073325A1 (en) 2004-04-15
US8535170B2 (en) 2013-09-17
US7121962B2 (en) 2006-10-17
US20120149482A1 (en) 2012-06-14
US8758170B2 (en) 2014-06-24
US20170216705A1 (en) 2017-08-03
US8142304B2 (en) 2012-03-27
US20070135237A1 (en) 2007-06-14
US20190374845A1 (en) 2019-12-12
US20220080287A1 (en) 2022-03-17
US9656147B2 (en) 2017-05-23
US11752418B2 (en) 2023-09-12
US20130166199A1 (en) 2013-06-27

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US11752418B2 (en) Golf player aid with stroke result forecasting
US5740077A (en) Golf round data system
EP0710494B1 (en) Method for guiding golf course, device therefor, and golf course managing system
US6030109A (en) Golf scoring system
AU2015282355B2 (en) Data collection system
EP2178607B1 (en) Apparatuses, methods and systems relating to automatic golf data collecting and recording
WO2005089498A2 (en) Virtual caddy system and method
JPH0615022A (en) Golf score recorder and score display method using the same
US11192007B2 (en) Smart golf bag system
WO2010016616A1 (en) Golf navigation system and portable golf navigation apparatus
JP2004054469A (en) Golf play information providing method and golf play information providing system
US20020177494A1 (en) Method and device for selecting a golf club
WO2001097925A2 (en) A method of keeping score in a golf game and a golf scoring system
JP2003220166A (en) Support system for playing golf

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: APPALACHIAN TECHNOLOGY, LLC, VIRGINIA

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:REEVES, G. GEORGE;REEL/FRAME:021076/0314

Effective date: 20080301

AS Assignment

Owner name: LASALLE BUSINESS CREDIT, LLC, ILLINOIS

Free format text: SECURITY AGREEMENT;ASSIGNOR:APPALACHIAN TECHNOLOGY, LLC;REEL/FRAME:021076/0830

Effective date: 20080523

AS Assignment

Owner name: APPALACHIAN TECHNOLOGY, LLC, MISSISSIPPI

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:REEVES, GOODWYN GEORGE;REEL/FRAME:022484/0714

Effective date: 20090323

STCF Information on status: patent grant

Free format text: PATENTED CASE

MAFP Maintenance fee payment

Free format text: PAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEE, 4TH YR, SMALL ENTITY (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: M2551); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: SMALL ENTITY

Year of fee payment: 4